Physical distribution/transportation system and integrated physical distribution system

ABSTRACT

A physical distribution/transportation system comprises a plurality of nodes ( 2 ) for collecting cargoes from shipment parties and discharging cargoes to delivery destinations. A dedicated traveling line ( 4 ) connects the plurality of nodes ( 2 ). Pallet vehicles ( 6 ) travel between the nodes ( 2 ) along the dedicated traveling line, and a travel controlling system ( 22 ) controls operation of the pallet vehicles. Between the nodes ( 2 ) and users are utilized ordinary vehicles which travel on ordinary roads ( 18 ). The physical distribution/transportation system is constituted by a combination of the dedicated traveling line ( 4 ) and ordinary traveling lines, which are the ordinary roads ( 18 ). Further, an integrated physical distribution system includes such a physical distribution/transportation system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a physical distribution/transportationsystem using an autonomous pallet vehicle and an integrated physicaldistribution system including the physical distribution/transportationsystem, a sales system, a manufacturing system and a material supplysystem.

There has been proposed a shuttle highway system as a transportationsystem using autonomous pallet vehicles (“The Shuttle Highway System”Proceeding Of The Second World Congress on Intelligent Transport SystemVol. Vpp 2203-2212, 1995). In the shuttle highway system, there arearranged a plurality of interchanges, which are connected to each othervia dedicated transportation lines, on which a dedicated autonomouspallet vehicle travels. Gateways from and to the interchanges arerespectively connected to ordinary roads. A vehicle from an ordinaryroad enters the interchange from the gateway thereto and is loaded ontoa pallet vehicle at the interchange. The pallet vehicle is utilizedbetween that interchange and a destination interchange, and the palletvehicle travels at high speed along the transportation line. At thedestination interchange, the vehicle is unloaded from the pallet vehicleand is returned to an ordinary road from the gateway from theinterchange and the vehicle travels to a destination on the ordinaryroad. In such a system, since the high-speed pallet vehicle is utilizedbetween the interchanges, an advantage of reduced movement time inmoving by a vehicle is obtained.

The above-described system for transporting vehicles is effective intransportation of vehicles. Although such a high speed transportationsystem has been requested not only in the field of vehicletransportation but also in the field of physical distribution systemsfor delivering cargoes, it is difficult to apply the shuttle system asit is to a physical distribution system.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel physicaldistribution/transportation system utilizing an autonomous palletvehicle.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel integratedphysical distribution system including the fields of sales,manufacturing and physical distribution/transportation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a physical distribution/transportationsystem comprising a plurality of nodes for collecting cargoes deliveredfrom shipment parties and cargoes to be delivered to deliverydestinations; a dedicated traveling line for connecting the plurality ofnodes; pallet vehicles which travel between the plurality of nodes alongthe dedicated traveling line; and a travel controlling system forcontrolling operation of the pallet vehicles between the plurality ofnodes, the travel controlling system controlling operation of the palletvehicles based on transporting party information and transporteddestination information regarding the delivery cargoes.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, since the cargoes delivered from shipment parties and thecargoes to be delivered to delivery destinations are collected at thenodes and transported between the plurality of nodes by the palletvehicles which travel under control of the travel controlling system,the physical distribution/transportation system centering on operationof the pallet vehicles can be constructed. Accordingly, high-speed andaccurate transportation of cargoes is made feasible by managing theoperation of the pallet vehicles with the result that transportationtime of cargoes can be reduced.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the plurality of nodesare respectively arranged so as to correspond to predetermined areas,and when a cargo is delivered from a shipment party of a first specificare to a delivery destination of a second specific area, the cargo istransported from the shipment party to a first specific nodecorresponding to the first specific area by an ordinary vehicle,transported by the pallet vehicle between the first specific node and asecond specific node corresponding to the second specific area, anddelivered by the ordinary vehicle from the second specific node to thedelivery destination.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, the cargo delivered from the shipment party is collected atthe first specific node near the shipment party by the ordinary vehicle,and is transported by the pallet vehicle between the first specific nodeand the second specific node near the delivery destination. Further, thecargo is further delivered by the ordinary vehicle between the secondspecific node and the delivery destination. Accordingly, highlyefficient transportation is made feasible by a combination of the palletvehicle which travels on the dedicated traveling line and the ordinaryvehicle.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the node is connectedwith a dedicated traveling line for the pallet vehicle and an ordinarytraveling line for the ordinary vehicle, and the dedicated travelingline is arranged on one side of the node, while the ordinary travelingline is arranged on the other side of the node opposed to the one side.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, since the dedicated traveling line is arranged on one side ofthe node and the ordinary traveling line is arranged on the other sideof the node so as to be nearly parallel to the dedicated traveling lineand move in a direction opposite to that of the dedicated travelingline, the pallet vehicle and the ordinary vehicle move smoothly at thenode.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the pallet vehiclecomprises a loading apparatus for loading and securing a cargo, and atraveling device for autonomously conveying the pallet via a vehiclecontrol system along the dedicated traveling line. The pallet vehicle iscontrolled to travel on the basis of information on the cargoes to betransported.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, the pallet vehicle is loaded with the cargo to be securedthereto by the loading apparatus and autonomously travels via thetraveling device on the basis of information on the cargoes to betransported, and accordingly the cargoes are delivered to desired nodesby the pallet vehicle with reliability.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the specific nodecomprises a first unloading dock for unloading cargoes transported bythe pallet vehicles, a first loading dock for loading cargoes onto thepallet vehicles, a second unloading dock for loading cargoes transportedby the ordinary vehicles, a second loading dock for loading cargoes ontothe ordinary vehicles, a first transfer apparatus for transferringcargoes unloaded at the first unloading dock to the second loading dock,and a second transfer apparatus for transferring cargoes unloaded at thesecond unloading dock to the first loading dock. The first unloadingdock, the first transfer apparatus and the second loading dock arearranged on a side of one end of the specific node in a directionperpendicular to the dedicated traveling line and the ordinary travelingline, and the second unloading dock, the second transfer apparatus andthe first loading dock are arranged on a side of the other end of thespecific node in the direction perpendicular to the dedicated travelingline and the ordinary traveling line.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, since the first unloading dock for the pallet vehicles andthe second loading dock for the ordinary vehicles are arranged on theside of the one end portion of the node, and the second unloading dockfor the ordinary vehicles and the first loading dock for the palletvehicles are arranged on the side of the other end portion of the node,cargoes delivered from the shipment parties and cargoes to be deliveredto delivery destinations are smoothly transferred at the node with theresult that these cargoes are prevented from being mixed.

Further, the invention is characterized in that a first storage yard fortemporarily stocking cargoes unloaded at the first unloading dock isprovided in relation to the first transfer apparatus, a second storageyard for temporarily stocking cargoes unloaded at the second unloadingdock is provided in relation to the second transfer apparatus, a vacantpallet vehicle storage yard for stocking the pallet vehicles not loadedwith cargoes is provided between the first unloading dock and the firstloading dock, and a vacant vehicle parking yard for parking the ordinaryvehicles not loaded with cargoes is provided between the secondunloading dock and the second loading dock.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, since the first storage yard for storing cargoes transportedby the pallet vehicles and the second storage yard for storing cargoescollected by the ordinary vehicles are independently arranged, thesecargoes are not mixed together at the storage yards. Further, since thevacant pallet vehicle storage yard and the vacant vehicle parking yardare provided, the vacant pallet vehicles and the vacant ordinaryvehicles can temporarily be stopped.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the plurality of nodesinclude a harbor node for unloading cargoes from a ship and/or forloading cargoes onto a ship. When a cargo unloaded from the ship at theharbor node is delivered to a delivery destination, the cargo istransported by the pallet vehicle from the harbor node to a specificnode corresponding to the delivery destination, and when a cargo to beloaded onto the ship at the harbor node is collected from a shipmentparty, the cargo is transported by the pallet vehicle from a specificnode corresponding to the shipment party, to the harbor node.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, since the harbor node is included as one of the plurality ofnodes, cargoes unloaded from the ship can be loaded onto the palletvehicles via the harbor node and cargoes of the pallet vehicles can beloaded to the ship via the harbor node.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the harbor node isprovided with a crane for unloading cargoes transported by the shipand/or for loading cargoes onto the ship, by which crane the cargoesunloaded from the ship are directly loaded onto the pallet vehicles andthe cargoes to be loaded onto the ship are loaded directly from thepallet vehicles onto the ship. A low-speed-travel or temporary-stop areawhere the pallet vehicles travel at a low speed or temporarily stop isprovided at the harbor node or in a vicinity thereof.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, since the crane is arranged at the harbor node, cargoes fromthe ship can directly be loaded onto the pallet vehicles or cargoes fromthe pallet vehicles can directly be loaded onto the ship by the crane.Further, since the low-speed-travel or temporary-stop area is providedat the harbor node or in a vicinity thereof, checking of cargoes,customs clearance etc. can be carried out at the traveling area.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the plurality of nodesincludes a pallet vehicle node for loading the pallet vehicles loadedwith cargoes onto a ship and/or for unloading the pallet vehiclestherefrom. The ship is provided with the dedicated traveling line to beconnected to the dedicated traveling line of the pallet vehicle node,and the pallet vehicles are directly loaded onto a ship from thededicated traveling line of the pallet vehicle node via the dedicatedtraveling line of the ship and are directly unloaded from the ship, fromthe dedicated traveling line of the ship via the dedicated travelingline of the pallet vehicle node.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, since the dedicated traveling line for the pallet vehicles isarranged at the ship, the pallet vehicles can directly be loaded ontothe ship from the dedicated traveling line of the pallet vehicle nodevia the dedicated traveling line of the ship and the pallet vehiclestransported by the ship can directly be unloaded to the pallet vehiclenode, with the result that it is not necessary to unload cargoes fromthe pallet vehicles in transportation between the pallet vehicle nodesby the ship.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the plurality of nodesinclude an airport node for unloading cargoes from an airplane and/orfor loading cargoes onto an airplane. When a cargo unloaded from theairplane at the airport node is delivered to a delivery destination, thecargo is transported by the pallet vehicle from the airport node to aspecific node corresponding to the delivery destination, and when acargo loaded onto the airplane at the airport node is collected from ashipment party, the cargo is transported by the pallet vehicle from aspecific node corresponding to the shipment party to the airport node.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, since the airport node is included as one of the plurality ofnodes, cargoes unloaded from the airplane can be loaded onto the palletvehicles via the airport node, and cargoes of the pallet vehicles can beloaded onto an airplane via the airport node.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the airport node isprovided with a crane for unloading cargoes transported by the airplaneand/or for loading cargoes transported by the airplane and/or forloading cargoes onto the airplane, by which crane the cargoes to beunloaded from the airplane are directly loaded onto the pallet vehicles,and the cargoes to be loaded onto the airplane are loaded directly fromthe pallet vehicles onto the airplane. A low-speed-travel ortemporary-stop area where the pallet vehicles travel at a low speed ortemporarily stop is provided at the airport node or in a vicinitythereof.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, since the airport node is provided with the crane, cargoesfrom the airplane can directly be loaded on the pallet vehicles orcargoes from the pallet vehicles can directly be loaded onto theairplane by the crane. Further, since the low-speed-travel ortemporary-stop area is provided at the airport node or in a vicinitythereof, checking of cargoes and customs clearance can be carried out atthe traveling line.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the plurality of nodesincludes airport pallet vehicle node for loading the pallet vehiclesloaded with cargoes onto an airplane and/or for unloading the palletvehicles therefrom, the airplane is provided with the dedicatedtraveling line to be connected to a dedicated traveling line of theairport pallet vehicle node, and the pallet vehicles are directly loadedonto the airplane from the dedicated traveling line of the airportpallet vehicle node via the dedicated traveling line of the airplane andare directly unloaded from the airplane from the dedicated travelingline of the airplane via the dedicated traveling line of the airportpallet vehicle node.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, since the dedicated traveling line for the pallet vehicles isarranged in the airplane, the pallet vehicles can directly be loadedonto the airplane from the dedicated traveling line of the airportpallet vehicle node via the dedicated traveling line of the airplane,the pallet vehicles transported by the airplane can directly be unloadedto the airport pallet vehicle node, with the result that it is notnecessary to unload the loaded cargoes from the pallet vehicles intransportation between the airport pallet vehicle nodes via theairplane.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the plurality of nodesincludes an offshore node provided at an offshore area remote from aninland area, the offshore node and the inland area are connected via abridge or tunnel and the bridge or tunnel is provided with a dedicatedtraveling line.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, since the plurality of nodes includes the offshore noderemote from the inland area, by constituting a transportation base bythe offshore node, a problem of noise or the like to households can beresolved. Further, since the offshore node and the inland area areconnected via the bridge or tunnel having the dedicated traveling line,efficient transportation by the pallet vehicles is made feasible.

Further, the invention is characterized in that cargoes transported bythe pallet vehicles are containers for containing a number of deliveryitems.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, since the pallet vehicle is a container, efficienttransportation of delivery items is made feasible.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the plurality of nodesare each provided with a reloading yard for taking out delivery itemscontained in a transported container to reload them to anothercontainer.

According to the physical distribution/transportation system of theinvention, since the nodes are each provided with the reloading yard,delivery items in a container which have been transported or collectedat the reloading yard, can be reloaded to containers to desired nodesand efficient operation of the pallet vehicles is made feasible.

Further, the invention provides an integrated physical distributionsystem comprising a sales system for managing sales information ofsellers, a manufacturing system for managing manufacturing informationof manufacturers, a material supply system for managing materialinformation of material suppliers, a physicaldistribution/transportation system for delivering cargoes to thesellers, manufacturers and material suppliers, and an integratedcontrolling system for integrating the sales system, manufacturingsystem, material supply system and physical distribution/transportationsystem, the integrated controlling system the physicaldistribution/transportation system based on information from the salessystem, manufacturing system and material supply system.

According to the integrated physical distribution system of theinvention, since the integrated controlling system controls the physicaldistribution/transportation system based on information from the sales,manufacturing and material supply systems, control of a total of thesystem including these is made feasible.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the physicaldistribution/transportation system comprises a plurality of nodesarranged so as to correspond to predetermined areas, and the pluralityof nodes are connected to each other via a dedicated traveling linewhere the pallet vehicles travel, that cargoes from sellers,manufacturers and material suppliers in a specific area and cargoes tothe traders are collected and delivered to a specific node correspondingto the specific area, and that the operation of the pallet vehicles inthe physical distribution/transportation system is controlled by theintegrated controlling system.

According to the integrated physical distribution system of theinvention, since cargoes from sellers, manufacturers and materialsuppliers in the specific area and cargoes to these traders arecollected and delivered to the specific node corresponding to thespecific area, integration of the physical distribution/transportationsystems of these traders can be achieved concentrated on the nodes.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the specific node isprovided with an inventory storage space for storing portions ofinventories of the sellers, manufacturers and material suppliers in thespecific area.

According to the integrated physical distribution system of theinvention, since the inventory storage space for the sellers,manufacturers and material suppliers at the specific area is provided atthe specific node corresponding to the specific area, articles stored atthe specific node can be transported to desired locations via the palletvehicle in response to a request from the integrated controlling systemand reduction of transportation time period and efficient transportingcan be achieved.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the integratedcontrolling system is provided with a virtual mode in which a flow ofcargoes is virtually predicted on the basis of information from thesales system, manufacturing system, material supply system and physicaldistribution/transportation system, and a determination mode in whichcontents predicted by the virtual mode are determined in an actualsystem, with the contents determined by the determining mode being fedback to the system, manufacturing system, material supply system andphysical distribution/transportation system, respectively.

According to the integrated, physical distribution system of theinvention, since the integrated controlling system is provided with thevirtual mode in which a flow of cargoes is virtually predicted, byutilizing the virtual mode, simulation of time period (time periodincluding manufacturing system, material supply system) until requestedarticles are supplied, cost required for manufacturing thereof etc. canbe performed with the result that the manufacture, transportation etc.of articles under optimum conditions are achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other and further objects, features, and advantages of the inventionwill be more explicit from the following detailed description taken withreference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified view simply showing an embodiment of a physicaldistribution/transportation system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view simply showing a dedicated traveling line,pallet vehicles and the like in the physical distribution/transportationsystem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing a lower portion ofthe pallet vehicle and a traveling ditch in the physicaldistribution/transportation system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a simplified sectional view showing a pallet vehicle and aportion of a dedicated traveling line according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a simplified sectional view showing a pallet vehicle and aportion of a dedicated traveling line according to still anotherembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a simplified sectional view showing a pallet vehicle and aportion of a dedicated traveling line according to a further stillanother embodiment.

FIG. 7A is a simplified plan view showing a first layer portion of arepresentative example of a node in the physicaldistribution/transportation system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7B is asimplified plan view showing a second layer portion thereof.

FIG. 8 is a simplified perspective view showing a diverging and amerging portion in a dedicated traveling line.

FIG. 9 is a partially perspective view showing a group of palletvehicles moving along a dedicated traveling line.

FIG. 10 is a simplified view showing a harbor node and a constitutionrelated thereto in a physical distribution/transportation system.

FIG. 11 is a simplified plan view specifically showing the harbor nodeof FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a simplified view showing a physicaldistribution/transportation system in which a pallet vehicle travelsbetween an offshore node and an inland node.

FIG. 13 is a simplified view showing a system of a type of directlyloading a pallet vehicle onto a transport ship.

FIG. 14 is a simplified view showing a physicaldistribution/transportation system having an airport node.

FIG. 15 is a simplified block diagram showing a control system of anintegrated physical distribution system according to the invention.

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining a system constitution in the integratedphysical distribution system of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing physical distribution of a manufacturerin an integrated physical distribution system.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing physical distribution of a materialsupplier in an integrated physical distribution system.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing physical distribution of a seller in anintegrated physical distribution system.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of control of palletvehicles in a physical distribution/transportation system in anintegrated physical distribution system.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a physical distribution in a physicaldistributor in an integrated physical distribution system.

FIG. 22. is a flowchart showing a flow in executing a virtual program inan integrated physical distribution system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An explanation will be given of preferred embodiments of a physicaldistribution/transportation system and an integrated physicaldistribution system according to the present invention in reference tothe accompanying drawings as follows.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an outline of a mode of a physicaldistribution/transportation system according to the invention. In FIG.1, the illustrated physical distribution/transportation system isprovided with nodes 2 arranged so as to correspond to respective areas,a dedicated traveling line 4 for connecting the nodes 2, and palletvehicles 6 (see FIG. 2) which travels along the dedicated traveling line4. In FIG. 1, the respective nodes 2 are designated by circle marks anda specific structure thereof will be described later. The node 2 isarranged at an area where a trader (including an individual) utilizingthe physical distribution/transportation system is present. Respectivetraders 8 utilizing the physical distribution/transportation system(referred to as “user”) are designated by rectangular marks in FIG. 1,for example, a material supplier, a manufacturer (finished productmanufacturer, part manufacturer) and a seller correspond thereto. Forexample, in an area where a number of the users 8 of material suppliers,manufacturers, sellers and so on are present as in industrial zones 10and 11 and a commercial zone 12, a number of the nodes 2 are provided soas to correspond to a number of the users to thereby efficiently achieveoperation of the physical distribution/transportation system. Forexample, a specific node 2A is selected so as to correspond to the users8 present in a specific area A and another specific node 2B is selectedso as to correspond to the other specific area B. Further, cargoes fromthe users 8 in the specific area A (or B) are collected at the specificnode 2A (or 2B) corresponding to the area A (or B) and also cargoes tothe users 8 in the specific area A (or B) are collected at the specificnode 2A (or 2B) by utilizing the pallet vehicles 6 and collection anddelivery of cargoes are carried out via the specific node 2A (or 2B).

The dedicated traveling line 4 is designated by bold solid lines in FIG.1 and is arranged such that the pallet vehicle 6 can travel efficientlybetween the plurality of the nodes 2 and can be constructed fromcombinations of main lines 14 and branch lines 16 as necessary. In theembodiment of FIG. 1, lines connecting the industrial zones 10 and 11and the commercial zone 12 are the main lines 14, meanwhile, a lineconnected to an operation control center 15 incorporating a travelcontrolling system 22, mentioned later, is a branch line 16 and thebranch line 16 is extended by being branched from the main line 14. Bycombinations of the main lines 14 and the branch lines 16 in this way,construction of the dedicated traveling line 4 including the nodes 2 isfacilitated and addition of new ones of the nodes 2 is also facilitated.

An outline of a flow of cargoes when the physicaldistribution/transportation system is utilized is as follows. Forexample, an explanation will be given of a case in which cargoes aredelivered from a user 8A in the specific area A (first specific area) toa user 8B in the specific area B (second specific area). The user 8 andthe node 2 corresponding to the user 8 are connected via an ordinaryroad 18 (which functions as an ordinary traveling line), and thereforewhen the cargo from the user 8 is transported, an ordinary road networkwhere general ordinary vehicles 20 (FIG. 2), such as trucks, travel isutilized. That is, the cargo from the user 8A is transported by anordinary vehicle 20, and the collected cargo in the specific area A istransported to the specific node 2A (first specific node) correspondingto the specific area A by utilizing the ordinary road 18.

The dedicated traveling line 4 is utilized in transportation of thecargo between the specific node 2A and the specific node 2B (secondspecific node) corresponding to the specific area B. The dedicatedtraveling line 4 is arranged quite separately from the ordinary road 18and the ordinary vehicle 20 cannot travel on the dedicated travelingline 4. In relation to the dedicated traveling line 4, the travelcontrolling system 22 for controlling operation of the pallet vehicle 6which travels thereon is provided. The travel controlling system 22 canbe constituted by a mainframe computer for traveling control and thepallet vehicle 6 is operated based on instruction from the travelcontrolling system 22. The cargo collected at the specific node 2A isloaded onto the pallet vehicle 6 and the pallet vehicle 6 travels fromthe specific node 2A to the specific node 2B which is the destination,on the dedicated traveling line 4 based on instruction from the travelcontrolling system 22, that is, information of a transporting party andinformation of a transported destination.

When the pallet vehicle 6 is moved to the specific node 2B, at thespecific node 2B, the cargo transported by the pallet vehicle 6 isunloaded, and thereafter the unloaded cargo is delivered to the user 8Bof the delivery destination. The vacant pallet vehicle 6 unloaded of thecargo at the specific node 2B, is loaded with a new cargo and travels tothe other node 2 which is a delivery destination of the loaded new cargobased on instruction from the travel controlling system 22. Delivery ofthe cargo between the specific node 2B and the user 8B of the deliverydestination is carried out by the ordinary vehicle 20 traveling on theordinary road 18 (which functions as an ordinary traveling line) andtransportation of cargoes is carried out in this way.

In such a physical distribution/transportation system, since thetransportation is carried out by utilizing the dedicated traveling line4 between the respective nodes 2 and utilizing the ordinary road 18between the user 8 and the node 2 corresponding to the user 8, efficienttransportation of cargoes is made feasible by combinations of thededicated traveling lines 4 for connecting between the respective nodes2 and the ordinary roads 18. Further, since only the pallet vehicles 6can travel on the dedicated traveling line 4, efficient operation by thetraveling controlling system 22 is made feasible. In addition thereto,since traveling is feasible at high speed, time required fortransporting cargoes can be reduced.

FIG. 2 shows a portion of a deck-type composite line 24 in which thededicated traveling line 4 is arranged as an annex to the ordinary roads18 (ordinary traveling line). The deck-type composite line 24 isprovided with a support leg portion 25, and the dedicated traveling line4 and the ordinary roads 18 are integrally arranged at an upper endportion of the support leg portion 25. The dedicated traveling line 4 isprovided with a line main body 26 extending in the traveling directionof the pallet vehicle 6 and the line main body 26 is provided with fourtraveling ditches 28 at intervals in its width direction. The respectivetraveling ditches 28 are extended along the line main body 26 and thepallet vehicles 6 travel along the respective traveling ditches 28. Adescription will be given later of the pallet vehicle 6 and thetraveling ditch 28. In the embodiment, while two of the four travelingditches 28 (two traveling ditches 28 on the left side of FIG. 2) arelines where the pallet vehicles 6 travel to this side with respect topaper face, remaining two of the traveling ditches 28 (two travelingditches 28 on the right side of FIG. 2) are lines where the palletvehicles 6 travel to the other side with respect to paper face. Such adedicated traveling line 4 is utilized in transportation of cargoesbetween the nodes 2. In the dedicated traveling line 4 of theembodiment, since four traveling ditches 28 are provided, a relativelylarge number of the pallet vehicles 6 can travel to be applicable to thenodes 2 between which a large number of cargoes are transported.Further, when a still larger number of the pallet vehicles 6 need totravel, a number of the traveling ditches 28 may be increased,meanwhile, when a large number of the pallet vehicles 6 need not totravel, the number of the traveling ditches 28 may be decreased.

In the composite line 24, the ordinary roads 18 are arranged on bothsides of the dedicated traveling line 4. In FIG. 2, the ordinary road 18arranged on the left side of the dedicated traveling line 4 is providedwith two lines of traveling lanes, and the ordinary vehicles 20 such astrucks, passenger vehicles travel to this side with respect to paperface. Meanwhile, the ordinary road 18 arranged on the right side of thededicated traveling line 4 is provided with two lines of travellinglanes, and the ordinary vehicles 20 travel to the other side withrespect to paper face. Such an ordinary road 18 is utilized in deliveryof cargoes between the user 8 and the node 2 corresponding to the user8.

Although the above-described composite line 24 includes the dedicatedtraveling line 4 and the ordinary roads 18, to reduce a space in thewidth direction, the dedicated traveling line 4 may be arranged above orbelow the ordinary roads 18. Further, the dedicated traveling line 4 maybe arranged quite separately from the ordinary roads 18. When high-speedtraveling of the pallet vehicle 6 is desired, in view of safety oftraveling or the like, the dedicated traveling line 4 is preferably tobe arranged in an underground space, a tunnel or the like.

Next, in reference to FIG. 3, an explanation will be given of the palletvehicle 6 and a constitution related thereto. The illustrated palletvehicle 6 is provided with a pallet vehicle main body 30 in arectangular shape. At a front portion of the pallet vehicle main body 30is rotatably mounted a pair of front wheels (see FIG. 2), and at rearportion thereof is rotatably mounted a pair of rear wheels 32. Thepallet vehicle main body 30 is provided with an automatic steeringapparatus (not illustrated) for directing the front wheels in apredetermined direction and the pallet vehicle 6 travels along thededicated traveling line 4, that is, the traveling ditch 28 by theautomatic steering apparatus. The pallet vehicle main body 30 is mountedwith an electric motor 34 for driving the pallet vehicle and by theelectric motor 34, the pair of rear wheels 32 are rotated in theprogressing direction (predetermined direction) and in the regressingdirection (direction opposed to the predetermined direction). At a lowerportion of the pallet vehicle main body 30 is provided a travel rod 36extended downwardly. The travel rod 36 is provided with detectionsensors 38 and 40 and electric terminal 42. The pallet vehicle main body30 is further provided with a pallet vehicle controlling system 37 forautonomous travelling. A travelling instruction (including transportingparty information and transported destination information) from thetravel controlling system 22 is transported and supplied to the palletvehicle controlling system 37, and the pallet vehicle controlling system37 controls traveling of the pallet vehicle 6 based on theabove-described traveling instruction.

Fixing structure for fixing a cargo (not illustrated) is provided on theupper face of the pallet vehicle main body 30, and thereby a cargoloaded onto the pallet vehicle 6 is fixed to the pallet vehicle mainbody 30. A cargo loaded onto the pallet vehicle 6 is preferably acontainer 44. The container 44 is formed in a shape of a large box anddefines an accommodation space for accommodating materials, parts,products or the like inside thereof, and the accommodation spaceaccommodates delivery items which are delivered from shipping sides todelivery destinations. By utilizing a container in transportation anddelivery of cargoes in this way, loading and unloading of cargoes arefacilitated and highly efficient transportation of delivery items ismade feasible. Further, in order to be able to select in accordance withamounts of delivering delivery items, a plurality of kinds of thecontainers 44 having different sizes may be used, for example, twocontainers of different sizes, one of a large type for which the loadingcapacity of the travelling pallet vehicle 6 is one unit, and the otherof a small type for which the loading capacity of the travelling palletvehicle 6 is two units.

The respective traveling ditches 28 of the dedicated traveling line 4have substantially the same structure, a section of which is formed in arectangular shape and a power supply line 46 which is provided on abottom portion thereof and extending along the traveling ditch 28. Inthe power supply line 46, electric current necessary for the palletvehicle 6 to travel on the dedicated traveling line 4 is flowed, and issupplied to the pallet vehicle 6 via the power supply line 46. The sidefaces of the traveling ditch 28, opposed to each other are both providedwith detected lines 48 and 50 extended along the traveling ditch 28. Onboth sides of the travelling ditch 28 are provided travelling regionswhere the front wheels and the rear wheels 32 of the pallet vehicle 6travel, and travelling road portions 52 and 54 are provided so as tocorrespond to the travelling regions.

As shown in FIG. 3, the travel rod 36 of the pallet vehicle main body 30is disposed in the traveling ditch 28. That is, the electric terminal 42provided to further project from a front end of the travel rod 36 isbrought into press contact with the power supply line 46 and iselectrically connected thereto. Electric current from the power sourceline 46 is supplied to the pallet vehicle main body 30 via the electricterminal 42 and the electric current serves as a power source fortraveling, controlling and the like of the pallet vehicle 6. Further,the detection sensors 38 and 40 provided at a substantially centralportion in the axial line direction of the travel rod 36, are disposedto be opposed to the detected lines 48 and 50 of the traveling ditch 28to detect them. The pallet vehicle controlling system 37 automaticallysteers the steering apparatus based on detection signals from thedetection sensors 38 and 40, whereby the pallet vehicle main body 30travels in a predetermined manner along the traveling ditch 28. Further,a pair of rollers 51 are provided on both sides of the travel rod 36,which pair of rollers 51 prevent the travel rod 36 from being broughtinto direct contact with sides of the traveling ditch 28.

Although in the embodiment, as the pallet vehicle 6 traveling on thededicated traveling line 4 used is one utilizing the electric motor 34as shown in FIG. 3, in place thereof, pallet vehicles as shown in FIGS.4 or 5 may be used. Further, in FIGS. 4 and 5, members substantially thesame as those of the pallet vehicle of FIG. 3 are attached with the samenumerals and an explanation thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 4, an illustrated pallet vehicle 6 a is provided with the palletvehicle main body 30 onto which the container 44 is loaded, providedwith a pair of front wheels 41 and a pair of rear wheels (notillustrated) in the pallet vehicle main body 30 and travels on thededicated traveling line 4 by the front wheels 41 and the rear wheels.In this embodiment, the pallet vehicle 6 a is driven to travel by aninduction field. That is, induction plates 43 are arranged on both sidesof the traveling ditch 28 provided in the dedicated traveling line 4.The induction plates 43 are provided substantially over an entire lengthof the dedicated traveling line 4 along the traveling ditch 28. Eachinduction plate 43 includes a plurality of induction coils (notillustrated) arranged at intervals in the line direction of thededicated traveling line 4. Meanwhile, a reaction plate 45 is providedto be opposed to the induction plates 43 at a lower portion of thepallet vehicle main body 30. The reaction plate 45 is formed of amagnetic material. Other features of the pallet vehicle 6 a issubstantially the same as that shown in FIG. 3.

In the pallet vehicle 6 a, when electric current is supplied to theinduction plates 43 in a predetermined manner, the induction fieldgenerated in the induction plates 43 operates on the reaction plate 45.A drive traveling force is caused by the operation of the inductionfield and the pallet vehicle 6 a travels along the dedicated travelingline 4.

FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of a pallet vehicle. In FIG. 5, anillustrated pallet vehicle 6b is provided with the pallet vehicle mainbody 30 to be loaded with the container 44, which main body 30 isprovided with the pair of front wheels 41 and a pair of rear wheels (notillustrated), by which the pallet vehicle travels on the dedicatedtraveling line 4. The pair of front wheels 41 are provided with asteering apparatus 47 for changing the progressing direction, and therespective steering apparatus 47 is connected to steering controllingsystem 49. Further, the detected lines 48 and 50 are arranged in thetraveling ditch 28 provided for the dedicated traveling line 4. Thetravel rod 36 provided in the pallet vehicle main body 30 is received bythe traveling ditch 28, and the detection sensors 38 and 40 of thetravel rod 36 are opposed to the detected lines 48 and 50. The palletvehicle is constituted in such a way, and therefore detection signalsfrom the detection sensors 38 and 40 for detecting the detected lines 48and 50 are transmitted to the steering controlling system 49. Thesteering controlling system 49 controls the respective steeringapparatus 47 based on the detection signals from the detection sensors38 and 40 whereby the pair of front wheels 41 are directed in apredetermined traveling direction, and the pallet vehicle 6 b is movedalong the dedicated traveling line 4.

In this embodiment, the pallet vehicle 6 b is driven to travel by amagnetic operation. That is, linear field plates 53 are arranged on bothsides of the traveling ditch 28 provided in the dedicated traveling line4. The linear field plates 53 are provided substantially over an entirelength of the dedicated traveling line 4 along the traveling ditch 28.Each field plate 53 includes a plurality of field coils (notillustrated) arranged at intervals in the line direction of thededicated traveling line 4. Meanwhile, a reaction member 55 is providedto be opposed to the field plates 53 at a lower portion of the palletvehicle main body 30. The reaction member 55 is formed of a permanentmagnet or a magnetic material. In the embodiment, the pallet vehiclemain body 30 is provided with a plurality (two pieces are shown in FIG.5) of adjusting rods 57 and the reaction member 55 is fixed to theadjusting rods 57. By changing the length of the adjusting rods 57, aninterval between the field plates 53 and the reaction member 55 can beadjusted. Further, the adjustment of the length of the adjusting rods 57may be carried out manually or may be carried out by utilizing acylinder mechanism of hydraulic pressure or the like. Other features ofthe pallet vehicle 6 b is substantially the same as that shown in FIG.3.

In such a pallet vehicle 6 b, when current is supplied to the linearfield plate 53 in a predetermined manner, a magnetic field is generatedin the field plates 53 whereby a drive traveling force is caused by amutual magnetic operation between the field plates 53 and the reactionmember 55, and the pallet vehicle 6 b travels along the dedicatedtraveling line 4.

FIG. 6 shows further still another embodiment of a pallet vehicle and aconstitution related thereto. In FIG. 6, an illustrated pallet vehicle 6c is constructed by a constitution basically the same as that shown inFIG. 5 except the travel rod is not provided. That is, the palletvehicle 6 c is provided with the pallet vehicle main body 30 to beloaded with the container 44, which main body 30 is provided with thepair of front wheels 41 and a pair of rear wheels (not illustrated). Thepair of front wheels 41 are provided with the mechanism 47,which areeach connected to the steering controlling system 49. Further, to thepallet vehicle main body 30 is attached the reaction member 55 via theadjusting rods 57. Further, the dedicated traveling line 4 is providedwith linear field plates 53 each including a plurality of field coils(not illustrated).

In this embodiment, a travelling guide ditch 59 is provided on thededicated traveling line 4 substantially over an entire length thereof.The width of the travelling guide ditch 59 is larger than the width ofthe pallet vehicle 6 c and the pallet vehicle 6 c travels in thetravelling guide ditch 59. Explaining further, a plurality of rollers 61are provided on both side portions of the pallet vehicle 6 c atintervals in the forward and rearward direction of the pallet vehiclemain body 30 (one roller at each side portion is shown in FIG. 6). Therollers 61 prevent the pallet vehicle main body 30 from being broughtinto direct contact with side walls of the travelling guide ditch 59.The side portions of the pallet vehicle main body 30 are furtherprovided with the detection sensors 38 and 40 for detecting the detectedlines 48 and 50 provided on the side walls of the travelling guide ditch59. Detection signals from the detection sensors 38 and 40 aretransmitted to the steering controlling system 49 and the steeringcontrolling system 49 controls to operate the steering mechanism 47based on the detection signals.

Thus, the combination of the dedicated traveling line 4 and the palletvehicle 6 c as shown in FIG. 6 may be used in place of the combinationof the dedicated travelling line 4 and the pallet vehicle 6 as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, and similar operations and effects are achieved. In thisway, by utilizing an electric motor, a linear motor or the like, theproblem of emission gas is resolved and high environment compatibleperformance is achieved.

Next, an explanation will be given of a representative embodiment of thenode 2 in reference to FIG. 7. The illustrated node 2 is comprised of acomparatively large building 62 and various facilities which areequipped inside the building 62. The building 62 is of a two-tierstructure, a first tier portion thereof is equipped with main facilitiesof the node 2 and a second tier portion mainly serves as an inventorystorage space 64. The dedicated traveling line 4 where the palletvehicles 6 travel is extended to one side (upper side in FIG. 7A) of thebuilding 62. The dedicated traveling line 4 is provided with a maintraveling line 65 via which a plurality of the nodes 2 are connected toeach other. The pallet vehicle 6 travels on the main traveling line 65from left to right in FIG. 7A as shown by an row 66. An outlet branchline 68 is branched and extended from the main traveling line 65 infront of the node 2, and inlet side dock lanes 70 which are branched ina plural number are extended from the outlet branch line 68 and theinlet side dock lanes 70 are connected to an unloading dock 72(constituting a first unloading dock) which is provided at the left sideof the building 62 in FIG. 7A. Accordingly, the pallet vehicles 6 fortransporting cargoes to the node 2 (including vacant pallet vehicles 6)arrive at the unloading dock 72 from the main traveling line 65 via theoutlet branch lines 68 and the predetermined inlet side dock lanes 70.

A plurality of outlet side dock lanes 76 are extended from a loadingdock 74 (constituting a first loading dock) which is provided at theright side of the building 62 in FIG. 7A, the outlet side dock lanes 76merge with an inlet branch line 78 and the inlet branch line 78 mergeswith the main traveling line 65. Accordingly, the pallet vehicles 6 fortransporting cargoes to another node 2 (including vacant pallet vehicles6) enter the main traveling line 65 via the outlet side dock lanes 76and the inlet branch line 78 and travel toward the other node 2 to whichcargoes are to be transported. Further, the respective inlet side docklanes 70 and the respective outlet side dock lanes 76 are connectedrespectively via connection lanes 104.

The ordinary road 18 where the ordinary vehicles 20 (which may betransportation trucks or the like) travel is extended to the other side(lower side of FIG. 7A) of the building 62. The ordinary road 18including a general road or a high-speed road) constituting the ordinarytraveling line is utilized in transporting cargoes between the node 2and the user 8 and as shown by arrows 80 and 82, the ordinary vehicles20 reciprocally travel on the ordinary road 18. A first branch line 84branched and extended from the ordinary road 18 is connected to anunloading dock 85 (constituting a second unloading dock) which isprovided at a right portion of the building 62 in FIG. 7A. Further, asecond branch line 86 branched from the ordinary road 18 is connected toa loading dock 87 (constituting a second loading dock) which is providedat a left portion of the building 62 in FIG. 7A. Further, a movementline 88 for moving the ordinary vehicle 20 is arranged between theunloading dock 85 and the loading dock 87 and a vacant vehicle parkingyard 90 is provided to bypass the movement line 88.

The node is thus constituted, and when cargoes from the user 8 aretransported to the node 2 via the ordinary road 18, the ordinary vehicle20 loaded with cargoes arrives at the unloading dock 85 from theordinary road 18 via the branch line 84. Movement of the ordinaryvehicle 20 from the unloading dock 85 to the loading dock 87 is carriedout via the movement line 88 or the vacant vehicle parking yard 90. Thatis, when the ordinary vehicle is loaded with new cargoes immediatelyafter arrival at the node 2 and travels, the ordinary vehicle 20 movesto the loading dock 87 via the movement line 88. Meanwhile, when thereis a time period to some degree until new cargoes are loaded, theordinary vehicle 20 is parked temporarily at the vacant vehicle parkingyard 90 and is thereafter moved from the parking yard 90 to the loadingdock 87 (when cargoes are loaded). The ordinary vehicle 20 fordelivering cargoes from the node 2 to the respective users 8, mergeswith the ordinary road 18 from the loading dock 87 via the second branchline 86 and travels through the ordinary road 18.

In the node 2 according to the embodiment, since the dedicated travelingline 4 where the pallet vehicles 6 travel, and the ordinary road 18(ordinary traveling line) where the ordinary vehicles 20 travel, arearranged on sides opposed to each other by interposing the building 62,the movement of the pallet vehicles 6 and the ordinary vehicles 20 atthe node 2 is made smooth. Further, the dedicated traveling line 4 andthe ordinary traveling line are not intersected with each other and theconstitutions of the respective traveling lines are simplified.

Flows of pallet vehicles 6 and cargoes in the node 2 are as follows.Cargoes which are unloaded at the unloading dock 72, and the palletvehicles 6 which have transported the cargoes to the unloading dock 72are transferred to the loading dock 87 by flowing to the left portion ofthe building 62 in FIG. 7A. To further explain, the cargoes flow in anoutside region of the building 62 and the pallet vehicles 6 flow in aninner side region of the building 62. A transfer apparatus 92(constituting a first transfer apparatus) is provided between theunloading dock 72 and the loading dock 87. The transfer apparatus 92 isprovided with a transport conveyer 94 extending toward the loading dock87 in a shape of an inverse L, which transport conveyor 94 transportsthe cargoes unloaded at the unloading dock 72, to the loading dock 87 ina direction shown by arrows. Between the transfer apparatus 92 and theloading dock 87 is provided a storage yard 96 (constituting a firststorage yard) for temporarily storing the cargoes transported by thetransfer apparatus 92, and a reloading yard 98 (constituting a firstreloading yard) for reloading the cargoes. The storage yard 96 and thereloading yard 98 are arranged in parallel and the storage yard 96occupies an area larger than that of the reloading yard 98.

A pallet vehicle transport apparatus 100 on the side of putting thepallet vehicle therein is placed at a substantially central portion ofthe building 62 in the left and right direction of FIG. 7A, that is, oninner sides of the transfer apparatus 92 and the storage yard 96. Thepallet vehicle transport apparatus 100 is extended in the up and downdirection of FIG. 7A and transports unused vacant ones of the palletvehicles 6 in a downward direction from the side of the unloading dock72. A vacant pallet vehicle storage yard 102 is provided at an endportion of the pallet vehicle transport apparatus 100. The area of thevacant pallet vehicle storage yard 102 is comparatively large and isexpanded from a left portion to a right portion of the building 62. Thepallet vehicles 6 are temporarily stored in the vacant pallet vehiclestorage yard 102 when there is a time period after the cargoes have beentransported until new cargoes are loaded.

The node is thus constituted, and when the pallet vehicles 6 arrive atthe unloading dock 72, cargoes loaded onto the pallet vehicles 6 areunloaded at the unloading dock 72. The cargoes which have been unloadedfrom the pallet vehicles 6 are loaded onto the transport conveyor 94 ofthe transfer apparatus 92 and are transported to the storage yard 96 bythe transport conveyor 94. Further, when the cargoes need to be storedtemporarily, the cargoes are temporarily stored in the storage yard 96.Further, when the cargo is the container 44 and it is necessary toreload delivery items loaded in the container 44 in accordance with therespective users 8, the container 44 is transferred to the reloadingyard 98 and the delivery items in the container 44 are reloaded at thereloading yard 98. Further, when the container 44 needs to betemporarily stored after the reloading operation, the container 44 isstored in the storage yard 96. The cargoes which have been transferredby the transfer apparatus 92 are stored directly or temporarily at thestorage yard 96 (delivery items are reloaded at the reloading yard 98 asnecessary), and thereafter, transferred to the loading dock 87, loadedonto the ordinary vehicles 20 at the loading dock 87 and are deliveredto the respective users 8 by the ordinary vehicles 20.

The pallet vehicle 6 unloaded of the cargoes at the unloading dock 72 ismoved to the loading dock 74 via the connection lane 104 connecting theunloading dock 72 and the loading dock 74, and loaded with new cargoes,as described later, at the loading dock 74. When the pallet vehicle doesnot travel to load cargoes immediately after unloading the cargoes, thevacant pallet vehicle 6 is transported to the vacant pallet vehiclestorage yard 102 by the pallet vehicle transport apparatus 100 and istemporarily stored at the storage yard 102. Further, the vacant palletvehicle 6 is removed from the storage yard 102 and used when needed.

Next explaining a flow of the cargoes which have been unloaded at theunloading dock 85, the unloaded cargoes are transferred to the loadingdock 74 by flowing to the right portion of the building 62 in FIG. 7A.Further explaining, the cargoes flow at an outside area in the building62 and in the embodiment, the pallet vehicle 6 coming out from thevacant pallet vehicle storage yard 102 flows at an inner side area inthe building 62. Between the unloading dock 85 and the loading dock 74are provided a storage yard 106 for temporarily storing the cargoes(constituting a second storage yard), a reloading yard 108 (constitutinga second reloading yard) for reloading delivery items and a transferapparatus 110 (constituting a second transfer apparatus) fortransferring cargoes to the loading dock 74. The storage yard 106 andthe reloading yard 108 are arranged in parallel between the unloadingdock 85 and the transfer apparatus 110, and the storage yard 106occupies an area larger than that of the reloading yard 108. Thetransfer apparatus 110 is provided with a transport conveyor 112extended substantially in a shape of L and the transport conveyor 112transports cargoes from the storage yard 106 (or reloading yard 108) tothe loading dock 74.

At a substantially central portion of the building 62 in the left andright direction of FIG. 7A, that is, on inner sides of the transferapparatus 110 and the storage yard 106 is placed a pallet vehicletransfer apparatus 114 on the side the pallet vehicle exists therefrom.The pallet vehicle transfer apparatus 114 is extended in the up and downdirection of FIG. 7A substantially in parallel with the pallet vehicletransfer apparatus 100 on the side of receiving the pallet vehicletherein. One end portion of the pallet vehicle transfer apparatus 114 onthe exit side is disposed at the vacant pallet vehicle storage yard 102,and the other end portion thereof is disposed at the loading dock 74 andtransports the vacant pallet vehicle 6 to the loading dock 74.

The node is thus constituted, and when the ordinary vehicle 20 arrivesat the unloading dock 85, cargoes loaded on the ordinary vehicle 20 areunloaded at the unloading dock 85. Cargoes unloaded from the ordinaryvehicle 20 are transferred to the transfer apparatus 110 via the storageyard 106. When it is necessary to store cargoes temporarily, the cargoesare temporarily stored at the storage yard 106, and thereaftertransferred to the transfer apparatus 110. Further, when the cargo isthe container 44 and it is necessary to reload delivery items loaded onthe container 44, in accordance with the respective nodes 2 of transportdestinations, the cargoes are transferred to the reloading yard 108 andthe delivery items in the container 44 are reloaded at the reloadingyard 108. When the container 44 needs to be temporarily stored after thereloading operation, the container 44 is stored in the storage yard 106.Cargoes unloaded at the unloading dock 85 are transferred to thetransfer apparatus 110 directly or after having been stored in thestorage yard 106 (delivery items are reloaded at reloading yard 108 asnecessary). The cargoes which have been transferred in this way aretransported to the loading dock 74 in directions shown by arrows by thetransport conveyer 112, loaded on the pallet vehicles 6 at the loadingdock 74 and are transported to the desired ones of the nodes 2 by thepallet vehicles 6. Further, the vacant pallet vehicles 6 are transferredto the loading dock 74 from the unloading dock 72 via the connectionlines 104 or from the vacant pallet vehicle storage yard 102 by theoperation of the pallet vehicle transfer apparatus 114 on the exit sidethereof.

The above-described equipment of the node 2 constitutes the first tierportion of the building 62, and at the second tier portion of thebuilding 62, as shown in FIG. 7B, are provided the inventory storagespace 64 and a control and management space 118. The inventory storagespace 64 is stored with portions of inventories of materials, parts,products and so on of the users 8 (material suppliers, manufacturers andsellers) corresponding to the node 2, and inventories stored in theinventory storage space 64 are delivered to the delivery destinations asnecessary. The inventory storage space 64 is stored with portions ofcargoes transported from the users 8 to the node 2, and the inventorystorage space 64 is significantly related to the storage yard 106 and inthe embodiment, the storage yard 106 and the inventory storage space 64are connected via transport elevators 120. Therefore, when cargoes whichhave arrived at the unloading dock 85 are to be stored as inventories,the cargoes are transported from the storage yard 106 to the inventorystorage space 64 by the transport elevators 120 and the cargoes arecontrolled as inventories of the inventory storage space 64. Meanwhile,when portions of the inventories are to be delivered, cargoes (deliveryitems) stored in the inventory storage space 64 are transported to thestorage yard 106 by the transport elevators 120 and are transferred fromthe storage yard 106 to the loading dock 74 via the transfer apparatus110. Further, the control and management space 118 accommodates a nodecontrolling system 122 for controlling the above-described variousfacilities equipped at the node 2. The node controlling system 122 isconstituted by a computer for totally controlling the node, and withregard to portions of the control, controls related to the palletvehicles 6, for example, arrival, departure, temporal storage and so onof the pallet vehicles 6 are carried out by receiving an instructionfrom the travel controlling system 22 (FIG. 1) for controlling theoperation of the pallet vehicles 6.

The representative node 2 is thus constituted, and the node 2 cantemporarily store cargoes, reload delivery items when the cargo is thecontainer 44 and partially store inventories of the users 8. Further,while cargoes which have been transported by the pallet vehicles 6 aretransported from the unloading dock 72 to the loading dock 87 on one endportion side (left side portion in FIG. 7A) of the node 2, cargoescollected by the ordinary vehicles 20 are transported from the unloadingdock 85 to the loading dock 74 on the other end portion side (right sideportion in FIG. 7A) of the node 2. Accordingly, flow of cargoes issmooth, flows of cargoes are not mixed by being intersected with eachother, and handling of cargoes at the node 2 is facilitated.

Divergence and merge from and to the main traveling line 65 areconstituted as shown by, for example, FIG. 8. For example, the outletbranch line 68 is diverged from the main traveling line 65 and isconnected to, for example, the inlet side dock lanes 70 of the node 2(see FIG. 7A). Further, for example, the inlet branch line 78 extendedfrom the outlet side dock lanes 76 of the node 2 is connected to themain traveling line 65. Therefore, the pallet vehicle 6 traveling on themain traveling line 65 is diverged from the main traveling line 65 andtravels along the outlet branch line 68 to the node 2 in a directiondesignated by an arrow 77 by receiving instruction from the travelcontrolling system 22 (FIG. 1). Further, the pallet vehicle 6 travelingfrom the outlet side dock lane 76 in a direction designated by an arrow79 via the inlet branch line 78, merges with the main traveling line 65and travels by receiving an instruction from the travel controllingsystem 22.

Travelling control between the pallet vehicles 6 traveling on thededicated traveling line 4 can be carried out, for example, as shown byFIG. 9. A traveling line 4 a on this side of FIG. 9 is a lane on whichthe pallet vehicles 6 travel in the upper right direction of the drawingshown by an arrow 101, andta traveling line 4 b on the other side ofFIG. 9 is a lane where the pallet vehicles 6 travel in the lower leftdirection of the drawing designated by an arrow 103. At a front endportion of each of the pallet vehicles 6 is provided a transmittingdevice 105 for transmitting a signal in the forward direction andreceiving device 107 for receiving a reflection signal which returns bybeing reflected after having been transmitted from the transmittingdevice 105. Further, at a rear end portion of the pallet vehicle 6,similar to at the front end portion, are provided the transmittingdevice 105 and the receiving device 107 mentioned above. Thetransmitting device 105 and the receiving device 107 at the front endportion and the rear end portion of the pallet vehicle 6 are sensors formaintaining an intervehicular distance between the pallet vehicles 6which are traveling continuously at a predetermined value. By providingsuch sensors, the distance between the pallet vehicles 6 is maintainedat a predetermined value, collision of the pallet vehicles 6 can beprevented and the intervehicular distance is made as small as possiblewhereby the operation of the pallet vehicle 6 can be achievedefficiently.

The rear end portion of the pallet vehicle main body 30 of the palletvehicle 6 is provided with a reception antenna 109 for receivinginstruction from the travel controlling system 22 (FIG. 1). Instructionreceived by the reception antenna 109 is transmitted to the palletvehicle controlling system 37 (FIG. 3) of the pallet vehicle 6, and thepallet vehicle controlling system 37 controls to make the pallet vehicle6 travel based on the instruction.

Further in this embodiment, the dedicated traveling line 4 is providedwith magnetic markers 111 in place of a traveling ditch. The magneticmarkers 111 are constituted of a magnetized magnetic tape and arearranged at predetermined intervals along the dedicated traveling line4. The magnetic markers 111 may be constituted of a long magnetic tapeand in this case, the magnetic tape is arranged continuously along thededicated traveling line 4. Also when the magnetic markers 111 arearranged in this way, the pallet vehicle 6 can travel autonomously alongthe dedicated traveling line 4.

Although an explanation has been given of the node 2 arranged at ageneral area in reference to FIG. 7, a harbor node provided at a harborcan be constituted as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, for example. In FIGS. 10and 11, a harbor node 132 is provided at a wharf of a harbor. The harbornode 132 includes a crane 134 arranged at a dock alongside which atransport ship such as a container ship 133 arrives. The crane 134 is alarge-sized crane and is arranged movably along rails 135 arranged alongthe dock. The crane 134 may be fixedly arranged, for example, at thedock. Since the crane 134 is provided, the containers 44 transported bya container ship 133 can directly be loaded onto the pallet vehicles 6by the crane 134 and the containers 44 loaded onto the pallet vehicles 6can be loaded directly on the container ship 133 by the crane 134.

The harbor node 132 is provided with a customhouse 136 and a vacantpallet vehicle storage yard 137, and the dedicated traveling line 4 isarranged through the customhouse 136, the vacant pallet vehicle storageyard 137 and the dock. The customhouse 136 is provided with a customsinlet section 138 and a customs outlet section 139 and customs clearanceof cargoes transported by the container ship 133 is carried out at anarea between the customs inlet section 138 and the customs outletsection 139. The customs inlet section 138 and the customs outletsection 139 are respectively provided with cranes 140 and 141, acontainer storage yard 142 for temporarily storing the containers 44 isprovided at sides of the sections 138 and 139, and an office 143 isprovided at a side of the container storage yard 142. Further, betweenthe customs inlet section 138 and the customs outlet section 139 and atvicinities thereof is provided a low-speed-travel or temporary-stop area144, where the pallet vehicle 6 travels at a low speed or temporarilystops.

At the vacant pallet vehicle storage yard 137 is arranged a rail 145where a pallet vehicle transport crane 146 is movably provided. Vacantones of the pallet vehicles 6 after having loaded the containers 44 tothe container ship 133 and the pallet vehicle 6 for loading thecontainers 44 from the container ship 133, are temporarily stored in theyard 137. The pallet vehicle transport crane 146 is utilized intransferring vacant ones of the pallet vehicles 6 on the dedicatedtraveling line 4 to the vacant pallet vehicle storage yard 137 ortransferring the pallet vehicles 6 stored in the vacant pallet vehiclestorage yard 137 onto the dedicated traveling line 4.

In the harbor node 132, when the container ship 133 comes alongside thedock, the pallet vehicles 6 stored in the vacant pallet vehicle storageyard 137 are transferred to the dedicated traveling line 4 by the palletvehicle transport crane 146 and travel to the predetermined dock alongthe dedicated traveling line 4. At the dock where the container ship 133arrives, the containers 44 are unloaded from the container ship 133 bythe crane 134 and are directly loaded onto the vacant pallet vehicles 6as they are. In this way, the containers 44 are directly loaded onto thepallet vehicles 6, and an efficient unloading operation can be carriedout.

The pallet vehicles 6 loaded with the containers 44 move along thededicated traveling line 4, reach the customhouse 136, travel inside ofthe customhouse 136 and travel in a direction designated by an arrow 151toward the nodes 2 of delivery destinations of the containers 44.

The low-speed-travel or temporary-stop area 144 is arranged in thecustomhouse 136, and the pallet vehicles 6 travel at a low speed ortemporarily stop when they travel in the low-speed-travel ortemporary-stop area 144. That is, when customs clearance of cargoescontained in the container 44 is simple, the pallet vehicle 6 travels inthe low-speed-travel or temporary-stop area 144 at a low speed, andduring the traveling time period, customs clearance of cargoes containedin the container 44 is carried out. Meanwhile, when the customsclearance of cargoes contained in the container 44 is complicated or inthe case where there are a number of the containers 44 to be subjectedto customs clearance, when the pallet vehicle 6 arrives at the customsinlet section 138, the pallet vehicle temporarily stops, the container44 loaded onto the pallet vehicle 6 is unloaded from the pallet vehicle6 by the crane 140 and is temporarily stored in the container storageyard 142. Further, during a time period of storing the container 44 atthe container storage yard 142, customs clearance of cargoes containedin the container 44 is carried out. Further, the vacant pallet vehicle 6after being unloaded of the container 44 travels in the low-speed-travelor temporary-stop area 144 at a low speed, and thereafter, travels tothe vacant pallet vehicle storage yard 137 via the dedicated travelingline 4 and is stored in the vacant pallet vehicle storage yard 137 bythe pallet vehicle transport crane 146. Further, when the customsclearance has been finished in the container storage yard 137, thevacant pallet vehicle 6 comes out from the vacant pallet vehicle storageyard 137 similar to the above-described and travels to the customsoutlet section 139 of the customhouse 136 via the dedicated travelingline 4. When the pallet vehicle 6 arrives at the customs outlet section139, the pallet vehicle 6 temporarily stops, the container 44 which hasfamished with customs clearance is loaded on the stationary vacantpallet vehicle 6 by the crane 141, and the pallet vehicle 6 loaded withthe container 44 travels in the direction designated by the arrow 151toward the nodes 2 of delivery directions. In this way, unloading andcustoms clearance of cargoes transported by the container ship 133 arecarried out.

The container 44 is loaded onto the container ship 133, for example, bythe following way. The pallet vehicle 6 loaded with the container 44from the other node 2 moves to the harbor node 132 in a direction shownby an arrow 152 and travels to a dock alongside which the container ship133 stays. When the pallet vehicle 6 travels to the dock, the palletvehicle 6 stops temporarily and the container 44 loaded on the palletvehicle 6 is unloaded from the pallet vehicle 6 by the crane 134, andthereafter directly loaded onto the container ship 133. Accordingly, thecontainer 44 can easily be loaded onto the container ship 133. Thepallet vehicle 6 freed of the container 44, travels to the vacant palletvehicle storage yard 137 via the dedicated traveling line 4 in adirection designated by an arrow 153 without passing through thelow-speed-travel or temporary-stop area 144 and is stored at the vacantpallet vehicle storage yard 137 by the pallet vehicle transport crane146.

Further, although in the above-described embodiment, the customhouse 136is provided at the harbor node 132, the customhouse 136 may be providedin a vicinity of the harbor node 132 slightly remote therefrom. Further,in place of the customhouse 136 may be provided an office for cargoconfirmation for confirming a number of cargoes in the container 44 orthe like, and also in this case it is preferable to provide a low speedor temporarily stop traveling area where the pallet vehicle 6 travels ata low speed or temporarily stops in the office.

Unloading and loading of the containers 44 from or to the container ship133 are carried out as described above. Further, the pallet vehicles 6loaded with the containers 44 are stored in a pallet vehicle storageyard 154 which is provided as necessary. The pallet vehicle storage yard154 can be arranged, for example, adjacent to the harbor node 132 or inrelation to a specific one of the nodes 2. Since the respective nodes 2and the users 8 corresponding to the nodes 2 are connected via theordinary roads 18, the container 44 delivered from the harbor node 132to a desired one of the nodes 2 (third specific node), is delivered tothe users 8 of delivery destinations from the node 2 by the ordinaryvehicles 20 (FIG. 2).

Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 constitutes acomparatively large physical distribution/transportation system fortransporting the container 44 unloaded at a dock of a harbor to adesired node among a plurality of the nodes 2, the embodiment isapplicable also to a comparatively simple physical distribution/transfersystem shown in FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, the physicaldistribution/transportation system is constituted of an inland node 162which is arranged in relation to a specific city of an inland area 161,and an offshore node 163 which is arranged offshore. The offshore node163 may be constituted of, for example, a floating pier. Theconstitution of the offshore node 163 is substantially the same as thatof the harbor node 132 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 and a detailedexplanation thereof will be omitted. The offshore node 163 is providedwith a dock alongside which a container ship 164 as a transport shiparrives (although not illustrated, a crane is provided at the dock), acustomhouse 165, a pallet vehicle storage yard 166 and a vacant palletvehicle storage yard 167. The customhouse 165 is provided with alow-speed-travel or temporary-stop area and during a time period inwhich the pallet vehicle travels at the low-speed-travel ortemporary-stop area, customs clearance of cargoes contained in thecontainer 44 loaded onto the pallet vehicle 6 is carried out. The palletvehicles 6 loaded with the containers 44 are temporarily stored in thepallet vehicle storage yard 166. Further; vacant ones of the palletvehicles 6 are temporarily stored in the vacant pallet vehicle storageyard 167.

The offshore node 163 and the inland node 162 are connected via thededicated traveling line 4 similar to as described above. The offshorenode 163 is arranged at the offshore location remote from the inlandarea 161, and accordingly, the offshore node 163 and the inland area 161are connected via a bridge or tunnel (not illustrated) and theabove-described dedicated traveling line 4 is arranged on the bridge orin the tunnel connecting the two. In this way, the pallet vehicles 6which travel autonomously between the offshore node 163 and the inlandnode 162 are made to travel whereby physical distribution/transportationcan be achieved efficiently.

Further, the inland node 162 and the respective users 8 are connectedvia the ordinary roads 18 and the containers 44 are delivered byutilizing the ordinary vehicles 20 (FIG. 2) such as trucks. Further, acontainer storage yard 168 for temporarily storing the containers 44 canbe provided between the inland node 162 and the users 8 as necessary.

Although the embodiment of FIG. 12 is constituted such that thecontainers 44 unloaded from the pallet vehicle 6 are loaded to thecontainer ship 164, in place thereof, as shown in FIG. 13, the palletvehicle 6 loaded with the container 44 can be constituted to be loadedto a transport ship. In FIG. 13, an offshore node provided at offshore(or at harbor) is a pallet vehicle node 171. Further, an inland area 172is provided with an inland node 173, and the pallet vehicle node 171 andthe inland node 173 are connected by the dedicated traveling line 4arranged on a bridge or in a tunnel (not illustrated) for connecting theoffshore area and the inland area 172. Further, the dedicated travelingline 4 is extended to a dock alongside which a transport ship 174arrives. Further, a dedicated traveling line 175 is arranged also insidethe transport ship 174, and when the transport ship 174 arrivesalongside the dock in a pre-determined manner, the dedicated travelingline 175 of the transport ship 174 is connected to the dedicatedtraveling line 4 extended to the offshore dock.

In the physical distribution/transportation system having such a palletvehicle node 171, when the transport ship 174 a arrives alongside thedock of the offshore node 171, the dedicated traveling line 175 of thetransport ship 174 is connected to the dedicated traveling line 4extended to the dock, and the pallet vehicle 6 from the inland node 173loaded with the container 44 can directly loaded to the transport ship174 as it is. Accordingly, it is not necessary to carry out a reloadingoperation of the container 44 and a crane for loading the container 44is also dispensed with. Further, also in unloading the pallet vehicle 6from the transport ship 174 which has transported the pallet vehicle 6loaded with the container 44, only the pallet vehicle 6 is moved fromthe dedicated traveling line 175 of the transport ship 174 to thededicated traveling line 4 at the dock, and the operation is facilitatedand can be carried out without using a crane.

Further, since the inland node 173 and the users 8 are connected via theordinary roads 18, the container 44 which has been transported to theinland node 173 is delivered to a delivery destination (specific user 8)by using the ordinary vehicle 20 (FIG. 2) such as a truck. Further, thecontainers 44 from the users 8 are also collected to the inland node 173by the ordinary vehicles 20 traveling on the ordinary roads 18.

FIG. 14 shows an outline of an airport node provided at an airport inplace of a harbor node provided at a harbor. In FIG. 14, an airport node181 is provided with a vacant pallet vehicle storage yard 183 arrangedin a vicinity of a runway 182 of the airport, and a customhouse 184.Vacant ones of the pallet vehicles 6 which are not loaded with thecontainers 44 are temporarily stored in the vacant pallet vehiclestorage yard 183. Further, the customhouse 184 has a constitutionsubstantially the same as that of the customhouse 136 of FIG. 11,namely, provided with a customs inlet section, a customs outlet sectionand a low-speed-travel or temporary-stop area which is arranged betweenthe sections and arrives at vicinities thereof. In the customhouse 184,customs clearance of the containers 44 loaded on the pallet vehicles 6is carried out during a time period in which the pallet vehicles 6travel through the low-speed-travel or temporary-stop area. Further,when some time period is required in customs clearance or the like, thecontainers 44 are unloaded from the pallet vehicles 6 at the customsinlet section and are loaded onto the pallet vehicles 6 at the customsoutlet section after having finished the customs clearance. Thecustomhouse 184 can be arranged not in the airport node 181 but in avicinity thereof.

Further, the airport node 181 includes a traveling crane 185 capable oftraveling freely at the runway 182 and a surrounding area thereof. Thetraveling crane 185 may be constituted by a traveling vehicle providedwith a crane mechanism. An airplane 186 such as an airplane fortransportation is stopped at the runway 182 or in a vicinity thereof inthe airport node 181, and the container 44 which has been transported bythe airplane 186 is hung by the traveling crane 185 and is loadeddirectly onto the pallet vehicle 6. Further, the container 44transported by the pallet vehicle 6 is directly loaded to inside of theairplane 186 by the traveling crane 185.

The airport node 181 and an inland node 188 of an inland area 187 areconnected via the dedicated traveling line 4. When the airport node 181is arranged at an offshore location remote from the inland area, theairport node 181 and the inland area 187 are connected via a bridge ortunnel (not illustrated) and the dedicated traveling line 4 is arrangedon the bridge or in the tunnel. The inland node 188 and the users 8 areconnected via the ordinary roads 18, and the containers 44 transportedto the inland node 188 are delivered to the users 8 of deliverydestinations by the ordinary vehicles 20 (FIG. 2).

Further, although the illustrated embodiment is a system in which thededicated traveling line 4 is arranged between the offshore airport node181 and the inland node 188, the constitution is also applicable to aphysical distribution/transportation system utilizing the airport node181 as one of a plurality of the nodes 2 of FIG. 1. In this case, theplurality of nodes 2 arranged in the inland area 187 and the inland node188 are connected via the dedicated traveling line 4.

Further, although in the illustrated embodiment, the container 44 loadedonto the pallet vehicle 6 is reloaded from the pallet vehicle 6 to theairplane 186 by the traveling crane 185, the pallet vehicle 6 loadedwith the container 44 can also be loaded directly onto the airplane 186.In this case, the dedicated traveling line 4 from the inland node 188 isextended to the runway 182 or a vicinity thereof and a dedicatedtraveling line (not illustrated) is arranged inside of the airplane 186.When the airplane 186 is moved to a predetermined position, thededicated traveling line 4 at the runway 182 or in a vicinity thereof isconnected to a dedicated traveling line (not illustrated) of theairplane 186 and by traveling the dedicated traveling line 4, the palletvehicle 6 loaded with the container 44 can directly be loaded onto theairplane 186 and the pallet vehicle 6 loaded with the container 44 candirectly be unloaded from the airplane 186. Accordingly, the container44 does not need to be reloaded, loading and unloading of the container44 to and from the airplane 186 are facilitated, and the traveling crane185 is also dispensed with.

Although an explanation has been given of preferable embodiments of thephysical distribution/transportation system according to the inventionas mentioned above, such a physical distribution/transportation systemcan be part of an integrated physical distribution system, as shownhere, by being combined with a sales system by sellers, a manufacturingsystem by manufacturers and a material supply system by materialsuppliers. In reference to FIG. 15, an integrated physical distributionsystem including a physical distribution/transportation system isprovided with an integrated controlling system 202 for integrallycontrolling the integrated physical distribution system. The integratedcontrolling system 202 can be constituted of a super mainframe computerfor controlling a total of the integrated physical distribution system.The integrated controlling system 202 is connected to the travelcontrolling system 22 and the node controlling system 122 in thephysical distribution/transportation system. The travel controllingsystem 22 is stored with pallet vehicle travel information regardingtime periods required for the pallet vehicle 6 to travel among therespective nodes 2, cost and so on. The node controlling system 122 isstored with physical distribution/transportation information regardingstored cargoes, inventories of the users 8, storage of vacant palletvehicles and so on. The above-described information is transferred amongthe integrated controlling system 202, the travel controlling system 22and the node controlling system 122. The travel controlling system 22 isfor controlling operation of the pallet vehicle 6 traveling on thededicated traveling line 4, and operational information with regard totraveling of the respective pallet vehicles 6 and so on is transferredbetween the travel controlling system 22 and the pallet vehiclecontrolling system 37 provided at the respective pallet vehicles 6.Further the node controlling system 122 is for controlling flows ofcargoes, the pallet vehicles 6 and so on at the respective nodes 2.

The integrated controlling system 202 is connected to material supplycontrolling system 204 in material supply systems owned by materialsuppliers who are the users 8 of the physicaldistribution/transportation system. The material supply controllingsystem 204 is constituted of a mainframe computer, the controllingsystem 204 is stored with material supply information with regard totime, cost, facilities and so on for manufacturing materials, and thisinformation is transferred between the integrated controlling system 202and the material supply controlling system 204. The integratedcontrolling system 202 is similarly connected to each of a manufacturingcontrolling system 206 in manufacturing systems owned by manufacturers,and a sales controlling system 208 in sales systems owned by sellers.The manufacturing controlling system 206 and the sales controllingsystem 208 are constituted of mainframe computers. The manufacturingcontrolling system 206 is stored with manufacturing information withregard to parts, time, cost, facilities and so on for manufacturingproducts of manufacturers. The sales controlling system 208 is storedwith sales information with regard to sales costs, sales situation andso on of products handled by sellers. The above-described information istransferred between the integrated controlling system 202 and themanufacture controlling system 206 as well as the sales controllingsystem 208. Further, each of the integrated controlling system 202, thetravel controlling system 22, the pallet vehicle controlling system 37,the node controlling system 122, the material supply controlling system204, the manufacture controlling system 206 and the sales controllingsystem 208 includes a system inputting device (not illustrated)constituted of a microcomputer including, for example, an inputkeyboard.

In the integrated physical distribution system, a flow of materials,parts and products as cargoes is as shown in FIG. 16. That is, cargoes(materials, parts and products) from material suppliers andmanufacturers are transported to the node 2 (node corresponding to areawhere traders are present) in the physical distribution/transportationsystem. Cargoes (materials, parts and products) to material suppliers,manufacturers and sellers are also transported to a node 2 (nodecorresponding to area where the traders are present) in the physicaldistribution/transportation system. Transportation, of cargoes betweenthe nodes 2 in the physical distribution/transportation system iscarried out by the pallet vehicles 6 utilizing the dedicated travelingline 4. Accordingly, a total of the physical distribution system centerson the physical distribution/transportation system, material suppliers,and manufacturers and sellers connected via the physicaldistribution/transportation system. Cargoes are not transportedindividually for respective traders but an integrated physicaldistribution system including all trades of traders is constituted.Further, the integrated controlling system 202 (FIG. 15) controls thetravel controlling system 22 and the node controlling system 122 in thephysical distribution/transportation system based on various informationfrom the material supply controlling system 204 of material suppliers,the manufacture controlling system 206 of manufacturers and the salescontrolling system 208 of sellers. Operation of the pallet vehicles 6 iscontrolled by the travel controlling system 22 and the node controllingsystem 122. Accordingly, operation of the pallet vehicles 6, managementof the vacant pallet vehicles 6 and so on are efficiently carried out inview of a total of the physical distribution system, and improvedefficiency of delivery of cargoes, reduction of delivery time periods,delivery costs and so on can be achieved.

Next, an explanation will be given of physical distribution in theintegrated physical distribution system in reference to FIGS. 17 through22. First, an explanation will be given of the physical distribution inmanufacturers when the integrated physical distribution system is usedin reference to FIG. 17. Physical distribution in manufacturers iscarried out by transfer of information mainly among the integratedcontrolling system 202 for controlling a total of the system, themanufacture controlling system 206 in manufacturers using the system,the material supply controlling system 204 in material suppliers relatedto the manufacturers, the travel controlling system 22 and the nodecontrolling system 122 in the physical distribution/transportationsystem. In FIG. 17, when a specific manufacturer uses the integratedphysical distribution system, the manufacturer accesses the integratedcontrolling system 202 by logging into the integrated controlling system202 (designated by “ICCC” in the flowchart) by operating the systeminputting device (not illustrated) of the manufacture controlling system206 of the manufacturer. When access has been made in this way, theoperation proceeds from step S1 to step S2 and a user code number of thespecific manufacturer, a number of products to be manufactured and so onare inputted by the above-described system inputting device. The inputinformation by the inputting device is transmitted to the integratedcontrolling system 202 via the manufacture controlling system 206. Wheninformation with regard to manufacturing is inputted in this way, theintegrated controlling system 202 forms a production scheme of theproduct based on the inputted information and transmits the formedproduction scheme to the manufacture controlling system 206. At step S3,it is determined whether the production scheme formed by the integratedcontrolling system 202 is of a content desired by the specificmanufacturer. Further, when the production scheme (or alternativeproduction scheme) is of a desired content, the operation proceeds tostep S4, where determination of a production amount and instruction ofproduction are carried out from the integrated controlling system 202 tothe manufacture controlling system 206.

Meanwhile, when the production scheme is not of a content which issatisfactory in view of manufacturing cost, delivery time of productsand so on, the operation proceeds to step S5, where alternative schemeinformation is inputted by the system inputting device. When thealternative scheme information is inputted in this way, at step S6, theintegrated controlling system 202 forms an alternative production schemebased on the inputted information and the alternative production schemeis fed back to a seller, mentioned later (step S7), thereafter, theoperation returns to step S3. In this way, when the production schemeformed by the integrated controlling system 202 is not satisfactory tothe manufacturer, steps S3, S5, S6 and S7 are repeated.

When the production amount is determined at step S4, the operationproceeds to step S8, where it is determined whether a material orderscheme formed by the integrated controlling system 202 based on theproduction amount is of a content desired by the specific manufacturer.When it is of a desired scheme content, the operation proceeds to stepS9, where order instruction of materials (in flowchart of FIG. 17,materials include parts necessary for producing products) is transmittedfrom the integrated controlling system 202 to the material supplycontrolling system 204 (in flowchart of FIG. 17, including manufacturecontrolling system 206 of manufacturer manufacturing parts) of a relatedmaterial supplier (in flowchart of FIG. 17, including manufacturer ofparts necessary for manufacturing the products). Meanwhile, when thematerial order scheme is not of a content desired by the specificmanufacturer, the operation proceeds to steps S5 and S6, and theintegrated controlling system 202 forms an alternative production schemesimilar to the one above-described. Information based on the alternativeproduction scheme is fed back to a seller, and thereafter the operationreturns to step S3 and the above-described operation is repeated untilthe production scheme at step S3 and the material order scheme at stepS8 become satisfactory contents.

The material order instruction is carried out at step S9, andsuccessively at step S10 it is determined whether the materialtransportation scheme formed by the integrated controlling system 202 issatisfactory for the specific manufacturer. Further, when the materialtransportation scheme is of a content satisfactory for the specificmanufacturer, the operation proceeds to step S11, where an instructionof material transportation is provided from the integrated controllingsystem 202 to the travel controlling system 22 and the node controllingsystem 122. Meanwhile, when the material transportation scheme is not ofcontents desired by the specific manufacturer, the operation proceeds tosteps S5 and S6, and the integrated controlling system 202 forms analternative scheme similar to the one above-described. Information basedon the alternative scheme is fed back to the seller, thereafter theoperation returns to step S3, and the above-described operation isrepeated until the production scheme at step S3, the material orderscheme at step S8 and the material transportation scheme at step 10become satisfactory contents.

Next, at step S12, an operation of confirming day and time of arrival ofmaterials delivered to the specific manufacturer is carried out on thebasis of the material transportation scheme formed by the integratedcontrolling system 202. Further, when the material arrival day and timeis of contents desired by the specific manufacturer, the operationproceeds to step S13. Meanwhile, when the material arrival day and timeis not of the contents desired by the specific manufacturer, theoperation proceeds to steps S5 and S6, and the integrated controllingsystem 202 forms an alternative scheme similar to the oneabove-described. Information based on the alternative scheme is fed backto the seller, thereafter the operation returns to step S3, and theabove-described operation is repeated until the production scheme atstep S3, the material order scheme at step S8, the materialtransportation scheme at step S10 and the material arrival day and timeat step S12 become satisfactory contents.

At step S13 is carried out order of materials, transportation ofmaterials and production of products in line with the production scheme,the material order scheme, the material transportation scheme and thematerial arrival day and time mentioned above. In this case, order ofmaterials is controlled by the material supply controlling system 204 ofthe material supplier, transportation of materials is controlled by thetravel controlling system 22 and the node controlling system 122 in thephysical distribution/transportation system, and manufacturing theproducts is controlled by the manufacture controlling system 206 of themanufacturer.

Thereafter, at step S14, the production amount of products of thespecific manufacturer is confirmed when the actual production amount isan amount desired by the specific manufacturer. The operation thenproceeds to step S15, and the production amount is inputted to theintegrated controlling system 202 and production of products at thespecific manufacturer is finished. Meanwhile, when the actual productionamount is smaller than the amount desired by the specific trader, theoperation returns to steps S5 through S7, and a production schemeregarding a deficient amount is formed. The operation then returns tostep S3 and the operations of steps S3 through S15 are carried out withrespect to the deficient amount.

Further, since the production scheme from the integrated controllingsystem 202 at step S3 is carried out based on information stored in thematerial supply controlling system 204 of the material supplier as wellas the travel controlling system 22 and the node controlling system 122in the physical distribution/transportation system, the content of theproduction scheme formed there is hardly modified later and is normallyin accordance with the formed scheme.

Since the system is thus constituted, the integrated controlling system202 controls to integrate the travel controlling system 22 and the nodecontrolling system 122 in the physical distribution/transportationsystem in addition to the controlling systems 204, 206 and 208 in themanufacturer of products, the material supplier (including manufacturerof parts of the products) and the seller with the result that the systembecomes the integrated physical distribution system including all thetrades, namely a system including not only physical distribution ofcargoes but also production of materials, parts and products.

FIG. 18 shows physical distribution in material suppliers when theintegrated physical system is used. Physical distribution in materialsuppliers is carried out by transfer of information mainly among theintegrated controlling system 202 for controlling a total of the system,the material supply controlling system 204 in the material suppliersusing the system, the travel controlling system 22 and the nodecontrolling system 122 in the physical distribution/transportationsystem. In FIG. 18, when a specific material supplier uses theintegrated physical distribution system, the specific material suppliermakes access to the integrated controlling system 202 by logging intothe integrated controlling system 202 by operating the system inputtingdevice (not illustrated) of the material supply controlling system 204of the supplier. When access has been made in this way, the operationproceeds from step S21 to step S22 and a user code number and the likeof a specific manufacturer are inputted by the above-described systeminputting device. Input information by the inputting device istransmitted to the integrated controlling system 202 via the materialsupply controlling system 204. When information is inputted in this way,a material supply scheme from the integrated controlling system 202 istransmitted to the material supply controlling system 204, and at stepS23 it is determined whether the material supply scheme formed byintegrated controlling system 202 is of a content desired by thematerial supplier. The material supply scheme is based on, for example,the material order instruction ordered at step S9 in the physicaldistribution of the manufacturer in FIG. 17. Further, when the materialsupplier makes a scheme of its own, the scheme can also be provided byinputting supply information desired by the specific material supplierby operating the system inputting device in the material supplycontrolling system 204.

At step S23, when the material supply scheme from the integratedcontrolling system 202 is of a content desired by the specific materialsupplier, the operation proceeds to step S24 and an instruction forsupplying materials is provided from the integrated controlling system202 to the material supply controlling system 204. Meanwhile, when thematerial supply scheme is not of a content satisfactory in view ofdelivery time or the like, the operation proceeds to step S25, wherealternative supply information is inputted by the system inputtingdevice. When the alternative supply information is inputted in this way,at step S26 the integrated controlling system 202 forms an alternativesupply scheme based on the inputted information and the alternativesupply information is fed back to a manufacturer and a seller who needthe alternative supply information (step S27), and thereafter theoperation returns to step S23. In this way, when the supply schemeformed by the integrated controlling system 202 is not satisfactory tothe material supplier, steps S23, S25 through S27 are repeated.

When the material supply instruction is carried out at step S24,successively at step S28, it is determined whether a materialtransportation scheme formed by the integrated controlling system 202 issatisfactory to the specific material supplier. Further, when thematerial transportation scheme is of contents satisfactory to thespecific manufacturer, the operation proceeds to step S29 and aninstruction of material transportation is provided from the integratedcontrolling system 202 to the travel controlling system 22 and the nodecontrolling system 122. Meanwhile, when the material transportationscheme is not of the content desired by the specific material supplier,the operation proceeds to steps S25 through S27, and the integratedcontrolling system 202 forms an alternative scheme similar to the oneabove-described. Information based on the alternative scheme is fed backto the manufacturer and the seller, and thereafter the operation returnsto step S23 and the above-described operation is repeated until thematerial supply scheme at step S23 and the material transportationscheme at step S28 become satisfactory contents.

Next, at step S29, an instruction of material transportation isprovided, to the material supply controlling system 204 based on thematerial transportation scheme formed by the integrated controllingsystem 202, and thereafter at step S30 is carried out an operation ofconfirming day and time of arrival of materials delivered to themanufacturer. Further, when the material arrival day and time is ofcontents desired by the manufacturer, the operation proceeds to stepS31. Meanwhile, when the material arrival day and time is not of thecontents desired by the manufacturer, the operation proceeds to stepsS25 through S27, and the integrated controlling system 202 forms analternative scheme similar to the one above-described. Information basedon the alternative scheme is fed back to the manufacturer and theseller, and thereafter the operation returns to step S23, and theabove-described operation is repeated until the material supply schemeat step S23, the material transportation scheme at step S28, thematerial transportation scheme at step S30 and the material arrival dayand time at step S30 become satisfactory contents.

At step S31 is carried out supply of materials in line with the materialsupply scheme, the material transportation scheme and the materialarrival day and time mentioned above. In this case, supply of materialsis controlled by the material supply controlling system 204 of thematerial supplier, and transportation of materials is controlled by thetravel controlling system 22 and the node controlling system 122 in thephysical distribution/transportation system.

Thereafter, at step S32 is carried out confirmation of inventory ofmaterials of the specific material supplier, and when the inventory isnot sufficient, the operation returns to step S23 via the steps S25through S27. Meanwhile, when the inventory sufficiently remains, theoperation proceeds to step S33, where an inventory amount of material isinputted to the integrated controlling system 202, whereby supply ofmaterials to the manufacturer by the specific material supplier isfinished.

The system is thus constituted, and the material supplier suppliesmaterials necessary for manufacturing by the manufacturer, to thespecific manufacturer in a predetermined manner by using the travelingpallet vehicles 6 in the physical distribution/transportation systembased on the material order instruction from the integrated controllingsystem 202.

FIG. 19 shows physical distribution of a seller when the integratedphysical distribution system is used. The physical distribution ofsellers is carried out by transfer of information mainly among theintegrated controlling system 202 for controlling the total of theintegrated physical distribution system, the sales controlling system208 of sellers using the system, the manufacture controlling system 206of manufacturers, the material supply controlling system 204 of materialsuppliers, and the travel controlling system 22 and the node controllingsystem 122 in the physical distribution/transportation system. In FIG.19, when a specific seller uses the integrated physical distributionsystem, the specific seller accesses the integrated controlling system202 by logging into the integrated controlling system 202 by operatingthe system inputting device (not illustrated) of the sales controllingsystem 204 of the seller. When access has been made in this way, theoperation proceeds from step S41 to step S42. At step S42, the specificseller inputs a product name, necessary amount, delivery time etc. of anecessary product in addition to a user code by operating the systeminputting device. When the input has been finished, the operationproceeds to step S43, where it is determined whether an inventory amountof the product is an amount necessary for the seller at the node 2(FIG. 1) corresponding to a manufacturer of the product based on theinstruction from the integrated controlling system 202. Further, whendelivery of the product can be carried out by the inventory amount atthe node 2, the operation proceeds to step S44. When the delivery of theproduct is difficult with the inventory amount, the operation returns tostep S42 and inputs again a necessary amount.

At step S44, the integrated controlling system 202 subtracts a necessaryamount which is needed this time from the inventory amount stored to thenode controlling system 122 of the corresponding node 2. Thereafter, atstep S45 it is determined whether a safe inventory amount is ensured atthe node 2 even after subtracting the necessary amount. Further, whenthe safe inventory amount is ensured, the operation proceeds to stepS55. Meanwhile, when the safe inventory amount is not ensured, theoperation proceeds to step S46, where the integrated controlling system202 forms a production scheme for ensuring the safe inventory amount. Asmentioned above, the integrated controlling system 202 forms theproduction scheme based on information stored in the material supplycontrolling system 204 and the manufacture controlling system 206 aswell as the travel controlling system 22 and the node controlling system122 in the physical distribution/transportation system.

Thereafter, the operation proceeds to step S46 and it is determinedwhether a lead time for producing products is of contents desired by thespecific seller. When the lead time is not of the contents desired bythe specific seller, the operation returns to step S42, where thecontents are reset by the system inputting device. Meanwhile, when thelead time is of the contents desired by the seller and the manufacturer,the operation proceeds to step S48 and the integrated controlling system202 forms a material procurement scheme for manufacturing the product.

Next, at step S49, it is determined whether a necessary amount ofinventory of material is stored at the node 2 (FIG. 1) corresponding toa material supplier for supplying materials. When the necessary amountof material is stored, material transportation instruction istransmitted from the integrated controlling system 202 to the nodecontrolling system 122 and the travel controlling system 22 of thecorresponding node 2, and materials are delivered to a manufacturer ofthe product from the corresponding node 2 by unitizing the palletvehicles 6 of the physical distribution/transportation system.Meanwhile, when the necessary amount of material is not stored, theoperation proceeds from step S49 to step S51, and order of materials toa material supplier is carried out, the ordered materials are deliveredto the manufacturer of the product by utilizing the pallet vehicles 6 ofthe physical distribution/transportation system similar to the oneabove-described at step S50. Order of materials to the material supplierand transportation therefrom are carried out along a flow of physicaldistribution similar to that shown in FIG. 18.

Next, the operation proceeds to step S52 and it is confirmed whethermaterials necessary for producing the necessary amount of the productare ensured at the manufacturer of the product. Further, when thenecessary amount of material is not ensured in the confirmationoperation, the operation returns to step S51, where order of materialsin respect of a deficient amount is carried out by instruction from theintegrated controlling system 202. Meanwhile, when the necessary amountof material is ensured, the operation proceeds to step S53, whereproduction of the product is carried out by the manufacture controllingsystem 206 by the manufacturer. Further, the produced product istransported to the corresponding node 2 and stored at the node 2 as theinventory, and at step S54 a production amount of the product by themanufacturer is confirmed. When the production amount is smaller than aschemed amount in the confirmation operation, the operation returns tostep S46, and the integrated controlling system 202 forms a productionscheme regarding a deficient amount and the operations of steps S47through S54 are carried out as follows. Meanwhile, when the productionamount by the manufacturer is as schemed (or safe inventory is ensuredat node 2 at step S45), the operation proceeds to step S55, where theproduct stored at the node 2 is delivered to the specific seller byutilizing the pallet vehicles 6 of the physicaldistribution/transportation system, and thereafter at step S56, theinventory amount of the product is confirmed at the node 2. When theinventory amount is deficient at the node 2, the operation returns tostep S46, a production scheme regarding the deficient amount is formedby the integrated controlling system 202 and step S47 and later stepsare carried out. Meanwhile, when a sufficient inventory amount is storedat the node 2, delivery and physical distribution of the product inresponse to request of the product from the specific seller arefinished.

Product and material are thus transported and inventory at therespective node 2 is effectively utilized, whereby efficiency oftransportation of product and material is enhanced and reduction ofdelivery time is achieved. Further, the system functions effectively asthe integrated physical distribution system including sellers,manufacturers and material suppliers.

FIG. 20 shows control of travel of the pallet vehicle 6 (FIGS. 2, 3)when the integrated physical distribution system is used. The travel ofthe pallet vehicle 6 is carried out by transfer of information mainlybetween the integrated controlling system 202, the travel controllingsystem 22 and node controlling system 122 in the physicaldistribution/transportation system. In FIG. 20, when travel control ofthe pallet vehicle 6 is carried out in the integrated physicaldistribution system, a controller for controlling traveling of thepallet vehicle 6 accesses the integrated controlling system 202 bylogging into the integrated controlling system 202 by operating thesystem inputting device (not illustrated) in the node controlling system122 of the node 2 or the system inputting device (not illustrated) inthe travel controlling system 22. When access has been made in this way,the operation proceeds from step S61 to step S62. At step S62, theintegrated controlling system 202 carries out an operation program andforms a travelling scheme of the pallet vehicle 6 based on informationstored in the travel controlling system 22 and the node controllingsystem 122 (step S63).

Next, the operation proceeds to step S64, where it is determined whethercontents of a pallet vehicle travel scheme are satisfactory. When thecontents of the pallet vehicle operation scheme are satisfactory, theoperation proceeds to step S65. Meanwhile, when the pallet vehicleoperation scheme is not of satisfactory contents, the operation proceedsto step S66, where alternative operation information is inputted by thesystem inputting device. When the alternative operation information isinputted in this way, at step S67 the integrated controlling system 202forms an alternative operation scheme based on the inputted information.The alternative operation information is fed back to a materialsupplier, a manufacturer and a seller who need the alternative operationinformation (at step S68), and thereafter the operation returns to stepS64. In this way, when the operation scheme formed by the integratedcontrolling system 202 is not satisfactory to the operation controller,steps S64 through S68 are repeated.

When the pallet vehicle operation scheme becomes satisfactory and theoperation proceeds to step S65, an instruction for executing palletvehicle operation is provided from the integrated controlling system 202to the node controlling system 122 and the travel controlling system 22of the respective nodes 2, whereby an operation in accordance withcontents of the operation scheme of the pallet vehicle 6 is carried out.Further, during operation of the pallet vehicle 6, it is determinedwhether the pallet vehicle 6 is operated in accordance with theoperation scheme (step S69). When some trouble or the like is caused andthe pallet vehicle 6 does not travel in accordance with the operationscheme, the operation proceeds from step S69 to steps S66 through S68,and the integrated controlling system 202 forms an alternative operationscheme similar to the above-described and, thereafter, the operationreturns to step S64. Meanwhile, when the pallet vehicle 6 travels inaccordance with the operation scheme, the operation proceeds to stepS70, where it is determined whether the pallet vehicle 6 arrives at adesired one of the nodes 2. When the pallet vehicle 6 arrives at thedesired node 2, the operation proceeds to step S71, where finish ofoperation of the pallet vehicle 6 is inputted to the integratedcontrolling system 202 by operating the inputting device (notillustrated) at the node controlling system 122 or the travelcontrolling system 22, and the operation of the pallet vehicle 6 isfinished by the input. Further, when at step S70, finish of theoperation is not in accordance with the operation scheme, the operationreturns to step S64 via steps S66 through S68 and the pallet vehicle 6travels to the desired node 2 with re-schemed specifications.

Such an integrated physical distribution system can include a physicaldistributor, and FIG. 21 shows physical distribution of a physicaldistributor when the integrated physical distribution system is used.Physical distribution of physical distributors is carried out bytransfer of information mainly among the integrated controlling system202, physical distribution controlling system (not illustrated) in aphysical distribution system of physical distributors using the system,the travel controlling system 22 and the node controlling systeml22 inthe physical distribution/transportation system. When a specificphysical distributor uses the integrated physical distribution system,the operator accesses the integrated controlling system 202 by logginginto the integrated controlling system 202 by operating a systeminputting device (not illustrated) of the physical distributioncontrolling system of the distributor in FIG. 21. When the access hasbeen made in this way, the operation proceeds from step S81 to step S82.At step S82, the specific physical distributor inputs a product name,necessary amount, delivery time, delivery location etc. of a necessaryproduct in addition to a user code by operating the system inputtingdevice.

When the input has been finished, the operation proceeds to step S83 andit is determined whether an external physical distribution scheme formedby the integrated controlling system 202 is satisfactory to the physicaldistributor. Further, when the external physical distribution scheme issatisfactory at step S83, the operation proceeds to steps S84 and S85and it is determined whether respective transportation schemes of theproduct and the material are satisfactory to the physical distributor.When the product transportation scheme formed by the integrated system202 is satisfactory at step S84, the operation proceeds to step S86, andwhen the material transportation scheme formed by the integratedcontrolling system 202 is of contents satisfactory to the physicaldistributor at step S85, the operation proceeds to step S86.

In the contrast thereto, when the external physical distribution schemeis not satisfactory contents at step S83, the operation proceeds to stepS87, and the alternative information is inputted by the inputtingdevice, the integrated controlling system 202 forms a new externalphysical distribution scheme based on the alternative information atsuccessive step S88, contents of the formed scheme are fed back to aseller, a manufacturer and a material supplier, and the operationreturns again to step S83. Further, when it is determined that thetransportation scheme of the product (or material) is not satisfactoryat step S84 (or S85), the operation proceeds from step S84 (or S85) tostep S87, and the operator inputs alternative information with regard totransportation of the product (or parts), the integrated controllingsystem 202 forms a product (or parts) transportation scheme based on theinputted alternative information at step S88, the formed contents arefed back to the seller or the like (step S89) and thereafter, theoperation returns to step S83. In this way, the above-described stepsS83 through S85 and S87 through S89 are repeated until all of contentsof the external physical distribution scheme at step S83, the producttransportation scheme at step S84 and the material transportation schemeat step S85 become satisfactory.

When the operation proceeds to step S86 with these schemes assatisfactory, the integrated controlling system 202 forms an optimumtransportation scheme of the pallet vehicles 6 based on information fromthe travel controlling system 22 and the node controlling system 122 ofthe respective nodes 2. According to the optimum transportation scheme,the operation of the pallet vehicles 6 is determined while satisfyingthe external physical distribution scheme, the product transportationscheme and the parts transportation scheme, mentioned above, such thatthe pallet vehicles 6 travel in a vacant state as little as possible andsuch that operation time periods of the pallet vehicles 6 are shortenedas much as possible. By carrying out such an optimum transportationscheme, very efficient operation of the pallet vehicles 6 traveling onthe dedicated traveling line 4 is made feasible.

Successively, at step S90 the operation of the pallet vehicles 6 inaccordance with the contents of the optimum transportation scheme formedat step S86 is carried out, and thereafter it is confirmed whether thepallet vehicles 6 arrive at desired ones of the nodes 2 at step S91.When they arrive at the desired ones of the nodes 2, the operationproceeds to step S92, where amounts of transporting the product andmaterial transported by the pallet vehicles 6 are inputted to theintegrated controlling system 202 by the inputting device, wherebydesired external physical distribution of the product and material isfinished. Meanwhile, when arrival of the pallet vehicles 6 cannot beconfirmed at step S91, the operation returns to step S83 via steps S87through S89 and a transportation scheme with regard to the product andthe material which have not arrived yet is formed by the integratedcontrolling system 202. The system is thus constituted, and the systemcan be integrated with a physical distribution system having a widerrange including the physical distributors.

Such an integrated physical distribution system can also select anoptimum condition by simulating a total of the system by a virtual mode.That is, the integrated controlling system 202 is provided with avirtual program 220 simulating the total of the system (see FIG. 15) andthe virtual program 220 is carried out by the virtual mode, wherebyoptimum conditions with regard to lead time, cost, inventory and so onof a product, parts or the like and optimum conditions with regard totransportation time periods, transportation cost and the like ofproducts, parts, materials and so on can be selected.

FIG. 22 shows a flow of control by the integrated controlling system 202having the virtual mode and an explanation will be given of the controlas follows. In reference to FIG. 22, explaining a case in which, forexample, a seller uses the integrated physical distribution system. Aseller utilizing a simulation by the virtual mode accesses theintegrated controlling system 202 by logging into the integratedcontrolling system 202 by operating a system inputting device (notillustrated) at the sales controlling system 208 owned by the seller.When access has been made in this way, the operation proceeds from stepS101 to step S102 where the needs data, for example, a number of piecesof production, lead time, name of a manufacturer, name of a materialdistributor is inputted by the above-described system inputting device.When the input of data has been finished, at step S103 the virtualprogram 220 is carried out. The virtual program 220 is stored in astoring device of the integrated controlling system 202. In carrying outthe program, the virtual program is read from the storing device, andthe integrated controlling system 202 simulates lead time and costrequired for producing a product with the specifications of the inputtedneeds based on material supply information stored in the material supplycontrolling system 204 in a material supply system of a materialsupplier, manufacturing information stored in the manufacturecontrolling system 206 in a manufacturing system of a manufacturer,sales information stored in the sales controlling system 208 in a salessystem of a seller, and physical distribution/transportation informationstored in the travel controlling system 22 and the node controllingsystem 122 in the physical y distribution/transportation system.Further, when the system includes a physical distributor, physicaldistribution information is stored in physical distribution acontrolling system (not illustrated) in a physical distribution systemof the physical distributor. Further, at step S104, it is determinedwhether a result of carrying out the virtual program 220 is to beselected, that is, whether the program is to be carried out as a system.When the seller adopts the result of the simulation of the virtualprogram 220, a determination mode is selected, and the operationproceeds to step S105. However, when the seller does not adopt theresult, utilization of the system is finished.

When the determination mode is selected in order to use the simulationresult at step S104, the operation proceeds to step S105 andspecifications of the simulation result are confirmed. Further, in thereconfirmation, when the integrated physical distribution system isoperated with the specifications of the simulation result, the operationproceeds to step S106 where the result is inputted to the integratedcontrolling system 202 as the determined specifications. Meanwhile, whenit is determined that the result is not optimum, the operation returnsfrom step S104 to step S102 where new needs data is inputted by theinputting device, and thereafter a virtual program based on the newneeds data is carried out.

When the simulation result is inputted to the integrated controllingsystem 202 at step S106, the inputted specifications are fed back to thematerial supply controlling system 204 of the material supply system,the manufacture controlling system 206 of the manufacturing system, thesales controlling system 208 of the sales system, the travel controllingsystem 22 and the node controlling system 122 of the physicaldistribution/transportation system (physical distribution controllingsystem of the physical distribution system when a physical distributoris further included) and the respective systems are carried out with thefed-back specifications. At step S107, the specifications which havebeen inputted to the integrated controlling system 202 at step S106 isreconfirmed and when there poses no problem, the operation proceeds tostep S108 where the integrated physical distribution system is carriedout with the determined specifications. Meanwhile, when there poses aproblem in the inputted result, the operation returns to step S102 wherethe virtual program is carried out again.

In this way, the virtual program for simulating the flow of theintegrated physical distribution system is provided, optimum conditionsof production and so on can be selected by carrying out the program withthe result that production, transportation etc. of products can beefficiently achieved.

Such an integrated physical distribution system can be part of a morecomplete integrated physical distribution system by linkage with supportsystems of JIT (Just in Time), CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing),CALS (Continuous Acquisition and Lifecycle Support), MRP (MaterialRequirement Planning), POS (Point of Sales), FA (Factory Automation) andso on.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription and all changes which come within the meaning and the rangeof equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embracedtherein.

As described above, the physical distribution/transportation system ofthe present invention is useful as a system of efficiently transportingcargoes of products, materials and so on by utilizing autonomous palletvehicles. Further, the integrated physical distribution system of theinvention is useful as a system for efficiently carrying out the totalphysical distribution including material suppliers, manufacturers andsellers and is provided as an integrated system including a materialsupply system, a manufacturing system and a sales system.

What is claimed is:
 1. A physical distribution/transportation systemcomprising: a plurality of nodes; a dedicated traveling line forconnecting the plurality of nodes; pallet vehicles which travel betweenthe plurality of nodes along the dedicated traveling line; and travelcontrolling means for controlling operation of the pallet vehiclesbetween the plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes including aspecific node provided so as to correspond to a specific area, thespecific node being provided with a dedicated traveling line connectedthereto, for loading and unloading cargoes of the pallet vehicle, and anordinary traveling line connected thereto, for the ordinary vehiclewhich at least one of collects a cargo from a delivery destinationwithin a specific are and delivers a cargo to delivery destinationwithin a specific area, the dedicated traveling line being arranged onone side of the specific node, the ordinary traveling line beingarranged on the other side of the specific node opposed to the one sideso as to be nearly parallel to the dedicated traveling line and move ina direction opposite to that of the dedicated traveling line, the travelcontrolling means controlling operation of the pallet vehicles whichtravel the dedicated traveling line, based on transporting partyinformation and transported destination information regarding thedelivery cargoes, wherein when a cargo is delivered from a shipmentparty of a first specific area to a delivery destination of a secondspecific area, the cargo is collected from the shipment party to a firstspecific node corresponding to the first specific area by an ordinaryvehicle, transported by the pallet vehicle between the first specificnode and a second specific node corresponding to the second specificarea, and delivered by the ordinary vehicle from the second specificnode to the delivery destination.
 2. A physicaldistribution/transportation system, comprising: a plurality of nodesincluding a first node corresponding to first area and a second nodecorresponding to a second area; a dedicated traveling line tointerconnect said first node and said second node, an ordinary travelingline associated with said first node; at least one pallet vehiclearranged to travel along said dedicated traveling line between saidfirst node and said second node, whereby a cargo is capable of beingdelivered from a shipping location within the first area to a receivinglocation within the second area; and a controller to control travel ofsaid at least one pallet vehicle based upon cargo information of theshipping location and cargo information of the receiving location, suchthat when a cargo is to be delivered from the shipping location to thereceiving location, the cargo is transported by an ordinary vehiclealong said ordinary traveling line from the shipping location to saidfirst node, then transported by said at least one pallet vehicle alongsaid dedicated traveling line from said first node to said second node,and then transported by an ordinary vehicle from said second node to thereceiving location, wherein said dedicated traveling line extendsgenerally parallel to said ordinary traveling line, with said dedicatedtraveling line being arranged on a first side of said first node andsaid ordinary traveling line being arranged on an opposite second sideof said first node, and wherein said controller is to control travel ofsaid at least one pallet vehicle such that said at least one palletvehicle travels from said first node to said second node in a directionthat is one of generally opposite to and generally the same as thedirection in which the ordinary vehicle travels along said ordinarytraveling line from the shipping location to said first node.
 3. Thephysical distribution/transportation system according to claim 2,wherein said at least one pallet vehicle includes structure for loadingand securing a cargo, guidance structure to automatically controltraveling of said at least one pallet vehicle along said dedicatedtraveling line, and a control system to automatically control saidguidance structure such that said at least one pallet vehicle travelsalong said dedicated traveling line based upon information of the cargo.4. The physical distribution/transportation system according to claim 3,wherein said first node comprises a first unloading dock to unload acargo from a respective one of said at least one pallet vehicle, a firstloading dock to load a cargo onto a respective one of said at least onepallet vehicle, a second unloading dock to unload a cargo from anordinary vehicle, a second loading dock to load a cargo onto an ordinaryvehicle, a first transfer apparatus to transfer a cargo from said firstunloading dock to said second loading dock, and a second transferapparatus to transfer a cargo from said second unloading dock to saidfirst loading dock, wherein said first unloading dock, said firsttransfer apparatus and said second loading dock are arranged on a thirdside of said first node, and said second unloading dock, said secondtransfer apparatus and said first loading dock are arranged on anopposite fourth side of said first node, with said first and oppositesecond sides being generally perpendicular to said third and oppositefourth sides.
 5. The physical distribution/transportation systemaccording to claim 4, and further comprising a first storage yard totemporarily stock a cargo unloaded at said first unloading dock, asecond storage yard to temporarily stock a cargo unloaded at said secondunloading dock, a pallet vehicle storage yard to stock a plurality ofsaid at least one pallet vehicle not loaded with cargoes, respectively,provided between said first unloading dock and said first loading dock,and a vehicle parking yard to park ordinary vehicles not loaded withcargoes, respectively, provided between said second unloading dock andsaid second loading dock.
 6. The physical distribution/transportationsystem according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of nodes furtherincludes a harbor node to of unload a cargo from a ship and load a cargoonto a ship, and wherein said controller is to control travel of said atleast one pallet vehicle such that at least one of the followingconditions is met: (i) when a cargo unloaded from a ship at said harbornode is to be delivered to a receiving location, the cargo istransported by said at least one pallet vehicle along said dedicatedtraveling line to a node corresponding to an area containing thereceiving location; and (ii) when a cargo delivered from a shippinglocation is to be loaded onto a ship at said harbor node, the cargo istransported by said at least one pallet vehicle along said dedicatedtraveling line from a node corresponding to an area containing theshipping location to said harbor node.
 7. The physicaldistribution/transportation system according to claim 6, and furthercomprising a crane to unload a cargo from a ship and then deposit thecargo directly onto said at least one pallet vehicle, and also to load acargo directly onto a ship from said at least one pallet vehicle, andalso further comprising an area at or near said harbor node where saidat least one pallet vehicle is to at least one of travel at a low speedand temporarily stop.
 8. The physical distribution/transportation systemaccording to claim 2, wherein said plurality of nodes further includes aharbor pallet vehicle node to load said at least one pallet vehicleloaded with cargo onto a ship and unload said at least one palletvehicle loaded with cargo from a ship, wherein said harbor palletvehicle node includes part of said dedicated traveling line to beconnected with part of a dedicated traveling line carried by the ship,and wherein said controller is to control travel of said at least onepallet vehicle along the connected dedicated traveling lines such thatsaid at least one pallet vehicle is at least one of directly loaded ontothe ship and directly unloaded from the ship.
 9. The physicaldistribution/transportation system according to claim 2, wherein saidplurality of nodes further includes an airport node to unload cargo froman airplane and load cargo onto an airplane, and wherein said controlleris to control travel of said at least one pallet vehicle such that atleast one of the following conditions is met: (i) when a cargo unloadedfrom an airplane at said airport node is to be delivered to a receivinglocation, the cargo is transported by said at least one pallet vehiclealong said dedicated traveling line to a node corresponding to an areacontaining the receiving location; and (ii) when a cargo delivered froma shipping location is to be loaded onto an airplane at said airportnode, the cargo is transported by said at least one pallet vehicle alongsaid dedicated traveling line from a node corresponding to an areacontaining the shipping location to said airport node.
 10. The physicaldistribution/transportation system according to claim 9, and furthercomprising a crane to unload a cargo from an airplane and then depositthe cargo directly onto said at least one pallet vehicle, and also toload a cargo directly onto an airplane from said at least one palletvehicle, and also further comprising an area at or near said airportnode where said at least one pallet vehicle is to at least one of travelat a low speed and temporarily stop.
 11. The physicaldistribution/transportation system according to claim 2, wherein saidplurality of nodes further includes an airport pallet vehicle node toload said at least one pallet vehicle loaded with cargo onto an airplaneand unload said at least one pallet vehicle loaded with cargo from anairplane, wherein said airport pallet vehicle node includes part of saiddedicated traveling line to be connected with part of a dedicatedtraveling line carried by the airplane, and wherein said controller isto control travel of said at least one pallet vehicle along theconnected dedicated traveling lines such that said at least one palletvehicle is at least one of directly loaded onto the airplane anddirectly unloaded from the airplane.
 12. The physicaldistribution/transportation system according to claim 2, wherein saidplurality of nodes includes an offshore node provided at an offshorearea remote from an inland area, with said offshore node and the inlandarea to be connected by one of a bridge and tunnel provided with adedicated traveling line.
 13. The physical distribution/transportationsystem according to claim 2, and further comprising at least onecontainer to be transported by said at least one pallet vehicle, whereinsaid at least one container is to contain a cargo of a plurality ofitems.
 14. The physical distribution/transportation system according toclaim 13, wherein said at least one container includes a first containerand a second container, and further comprising a reloading yard locatedat each of said plurality of nodes to remove items from said firstcontainer and load the items into said second container.
 15. Thephysical distribution/transportation system according to claim 2,wherein the cargo includes containers containing a plurality of items,and further comprising a reloading yard located at each of saidplurality of nodes to remove items from one of the containers and loadthe items into another of the containers.